Minister not at UN shows how little Tories want to protect disabled people
Where's Tom? This isn't the latest in the picture puzzle book series, but the question asked by many disability rights activists over the bank holiday weekend.
On Monday a humongous evidence session took place in Geneva. The UN Commission on the Rights of Disabled People committee was attended by many Deaf and Disabled People's Organisations (DDPOs) and other disabled activists. However, one person who was markedly missing was the Minister Disabled People, Health and Work, Tom Pursglove, or in fact anyone from the government.
Groups accused the government of hiding from the UN, prompting Disabled People Against Cuts to start the hashtag #WheresTom. The organisation tweeted that the minister not attending showed "the utter contempt he has for disabled people". The session was a chance to evaluate the progress the government had made on recommendations set out in the 2016 UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Earlier in the month the Equality and Human Rights Commission found that the UK Government have made little to no progress on the recommendations in this report.
The session heard evidence from DDPOs which brought to light how events that had happened since then disproportionately affected disabled people the hardest - including COVID-19 and the cost of living crisis. So you'd think when they're under this much scrutiny the government would jump at the chance to defend themselves. However, I suppose you can't defend what you haven't done and further scrutiny is the last thing this government want.
The session was opened with a reminder that "The rhetoric from UK government is worsening especially to disabled people who are not in work” Evidence given included that 66% of households referred to foodbanks include disabled people, more than 50% of disabled people struggling to pay high energy costs and that 79 disabled people died a day in 2021/22 whilst waiting for services they were entitled to. There were also “Serious concerns” raised about disability assessors for benefit assessments.
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The activist Ellen Clifford told the commission that ”Disability benefit assessments are about disability denial”, citing the 632,000 disabled people who get ESA but not PIP. Prior to the hearing Martha Foulds from Disabled People Against Cuts said “The government should put its effort into implementing the committee’s recommendations rather than its current commitment to cuts, enflaming hostility against benefit claimants and culture wars.”
The hearing also heard that it’s even worse for disabled people in the devolved nations. While the figure for disabled COVID deaths in England was 6 in 10 covid, in Scotland, it was up to 93%. In Wales, households with one or more disabled people in Wales more likely to live in poverty and the loss of EU funding has disproportionately impacted disabled people.
In a statement, Rhian Davies, Chief Executive of Disability Wales, said: “The UK Government’s non-attendance at the review session reveals very clearly that the Westminster Government has little that is positive to report” For Northern Ireland, there is the added political crisis now threatening the lives of Deaf and disabled people - an austerity budget that will see disability support services slashed. The commission heard that 62% of working-age disabled people in NI are referred to food banks and that families with disabled people have lost an average of £2000 per year under Westminster welfare reforms.
Nuala Toman, head of policy at Disability Action, said: "It is essential that the Westminster Government takes action to restore government in Northern Ireland and allocates sufficient resources to Northern Ireland for the delivery of public services.” The UK Government has shown complete disregard for the lives and rights of disabled people in Northern Ireland by refusing to attend the hearing.”
Thirteen years of tory cruelty have made life unlivable for disabled people in this country, which is why I think it is unacceptable that a representative didn’t bother to attend such an important hearing. For all the minister claims to want to learn from us and improve the lives of disabled people, Pursglove is making it clear how he really feels about the struggles we are facing because of his government. He doesn’t care.
A spokesperson from the government Equality Hub said “The government is fully committed to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the advancement of rights for disabled people in this country. We have followed all of the Committee’s required procedures and we will present the UK’s progress at a hearing in March 2024.”
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