The disability equality charity Scope launches its “manifesto for an equal future” today (16 April 2024), as it calls for all political parties to make disabled people a priority. New research from the charity demonstrates how disabled people feel sidelined by politicians.
In response, high-profile disabled people and campaigners – including the charity’s chair and top music executive Sir Robin Millar, actor and comedian Rosie Jones, comedian and TV host Adam Hills, and Paralympic medallist and TV presenter Ade Adepitan, along with Scope ambassadors Dr Shani Dhanda, Ben Elton, Sophie Morgan, Samantha Renke, and Lee Ridley – have joined with Scope to send an open letter to all party leaders urging them to prioritise the UK’s 16.1 million disabled people.
The open letter calling for all political parties to prioritise disabled people says:
Dear leaders of all political parties,
We are writing to urge you to prioritise disabled people in the upcoming election.
There are 16 million disabled people in the UK. We are one in four of the population. But too often we are left out, our needs sidelined and our voices ignored.
Scope has found that 77 per cent of disabled people think politicians are out of touch with their lives.
This upcoming election is a chance to put this right and prioritise disabled people once and for all.
We want the next government to commit to ending the price tag that comes with disability. To close the disability employment gap. To fix our welfare system, and, to challenge outdated attitudes to disability.
We believe achieving these will bring huge benefits to the UK economy, to the living standards of our community and to society.
Change is possible.
With your support, we can achieve an Equal Future for disabled people.
Research demonstrates how disabled people feel sidelined by politicians
The survey with 1,048 disabled adults from across the UK, carried out by Opinium and weighted to be nationally representative, found:
- 8 in 10 (77%) disabled people think politicians are out of touch with their lives
- 3 in 4 (74%) disabled people think politicians don’t understand disabled people
- More than half (58%) of disabled people think politicians don’t care about them
- 6 in 10 (64%) disabled people believe political parties will not prioritise the needs of disabled people in their election pledges
However, 85% of disabled people said they believe politicians do have the power to improve disabled people’s lives.
Scope is calling for all political parties to commit to ending the price tag that comes with disability, to closing the disability employment gap and to transforming outdated attitudes to disability.
Scope believes delivering these will bring huge benefits to the UK economy, to the living standards of the disabled community and to society.
Signatory and Scope ambassador Dr Shani Dhanda is a multi-award-winning disability specialist, campaigner and social businessperson. Shani said: “Disabled people need to be recognised, listened to, and understood. This has to happen now, at election time, and from the next government.
“One in four of us are disabled – that’s a significant proportion of the voting population, and we’ll make a difference at the next election.
“Being disabled in 2024 shouldn’t be this tough. Life shouldn’t cost much more if you are disabled. Our job prospects and career trajectory should match everyone else’s.
“We need to get to the point where everyone – up and down the country – automatically sees what we can do and the benefits we bring.
Chief executive at Scope, Mark Hodgkinson said:
“Disabled people feel repeatedly overlooked and politicians need to make much greater efforts to understand their lives. Progress towards disability equality must be accelerated by a future government.
“Disabled people are a force to be reckoned with, and whose voices must be respected in this election.
“We are urging all political parties to seize the opportunity to set out how they will create an equal future for disabled people.
“We need to see a positive vision from our politicians; to make this country one of the most accessible, progressive and dynamic in the world with disability and disabled people at the heart of our national life.
“Change is possible, but we need an ambitious, transformational commitment from all political parties to remove the barriers disabled people face once and for all.”
Do you feel disabled people are sidelined by politicians? Tell us your thoughts in the comments box, on social media or contact us to share your personal story.
