As the UK heads towards a general election in 2024, a disturbing reality has been made clear: the apparent lack of meaningful debate on disability rights and accessibility. This oversight is not just a political blunder, it is a scathing indictment of a system that has long marginalized a significant proportion of the population.
There are around 16 million disabled people in the UK – a quarter of the population – so one might expect disability issues to be at the forefront of political campaigns. However, as the major parties’ manifestos are published, it is increasingly clear that the needs and rights of disabled people are being relegated to the periphery of political considerations.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Conservative party has published a manifesto with surprisingly few disability-friendly policies, including perfunctory promises to increase spending on the NHS and improve accessibility at some train stations, but its approach to disability pay has raised alarm bells among supporters. The Conservative plans to reform disability pay, capacity to work assessments and health certificate procedures are focused on pushing people back to work, raising concerns that this will increase hardship for vulnerable people.
Even more troubling, the Conservatives have promised to make £12 billion a year in cuts to the welfare budget, a significant part of which will come from tighter regulation of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a vital lifeline for many disabled people who need care and mobility. Combined with proposed tightening of Work Capability Assessment (WCA), this could mean even more disabled people are wrongly deemed able to work and deprived of the support they need.
Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has slightly proposed a more holistic approach to disability rights and accessibility in its manifesto. They promise to champion disability rights, introduce disability pay gap reporting, and improve access to employment support and reasonable accommodations. Their pledges to reform the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system and create a sustainable national care service are steps in the right direction.
But the omissions in Labour’s manifesto are just as glaring. Previous commitments to overhaul the welfare system, end punitive sanctions and develop disability policy in collaboration with disabled people are noticeably absent. So are promises to abolish care charges, increase carer’s allowances and ensure better provision of accessible housing. The lack of immediate investment in disability and carer benefits and social care is a glaring omission that has gone unnoticed by the disabled community.
The Liberal Democrats, led by Ed Davey, have emerged as the party with the most comprehensive approach to disability rights and care in their manifesto. They propose creating a National Carers Agency, introducing free personal care for elderly and disabled people living at home, and increasing Carer’s Allowance. The Liberal Democrats have also committed to making caring a protected characteristic in the Equality Act 2010 and setting up an Independent Living Taskforce.
Notably, the Liberal Democrats are the only major party to have committed to fully implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, a move that would significantly strengthen the legal framework on disability rights in the UK. However, doubts remain about the feasibility and funding of their ambitious proposals, making them unlikely to form a government.
The differences in approaches between the parties highlight the urgent need for a more unified, rights-based approach to disability issues in UK politics, but it is not just the content of the manifestos that is of concern, but the wider political debate surrounding the election.
“Leadership debates have focused more time on the personal backgrounds of party leaders than on the systemic issues facing millions of disabled people across the country. The neglect of disability issues in politics is not a simple oversight; it reflects a deeper societal problem: the lives and rights of disabled people are routinely undervalued.”
This political neglect is particularly egregious given recent damning reports on the state of disability rights in the UK. A UN report published in April confirmed that the UK is violating the human rights of disabled people. A parliamentary committee concluded that it is undeniable that disabled people encounter unnecessary and serious barriers to obtaining suitable housing in England. Meanwhile, the Department for Work and Pensions is under investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission for its treatment of disabled applicants.
The UN report concluded unequivocally that “significant progress has not been made regarding the rights of disabled people across the UK to live independently and participate in their communities.” It went on to say that while reforms and policies have been put in place to provide financial support, accessible housing and transport, these measures are woefully inadequate when faced with the threat of rising living costs.
This damning indictment should have been a wake-up call for political action, but it was met with a deafening silence from the major political parties, making the disconnect between the lived experiences of disabled people and the priorities of our political leaders more apparent than ever.
Years of austerity and neglect have left our infrastructure – housing, transport and street conditions – consistently unable to meet the needs of disabled people. This structural decline, combined with anti-immigrant, anti-trans and racist policies, is pushing ever-increasing numbers of disabled people into poverty, homelessness, incarceration or death.
The failure of our political system to adequately address these issues is not just a moral failure, it is a violation of the fundamental human rights of millions of UK citizens. Disabled people in the UK are not a homogenous group – some experience greater injustice than others – but they share a common aspiration to live in an inclusive society where everyone can live a fulfilling life, feel connected and valued.
In the face of this political neglect, disabled people and their allies are mobilising for change. The Disability Manifesto, produced by DPO Forum England, sets out a set of radical policy demands aimed at overhauling and transforming the system. Inspired by the radical disability resistance of the past 40 years, this grassroots movement emphasises the need for disabled people to come together and fight for their rights.
The Manifesto calls for a range of measures, including the full incorporation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities into UK law, the creation of a National Care Agency, the introduction of free home care for older people and disabled people, and the protection of care under the Equality Act 2010. These demands go far beyond the lukewarm promises made by the major political parties and call for a fundamental change in the way society views and treats disabled people.
As the election approaches, it is vital that voters, and in particular the disability community and their supporters, critically examine manifesto promises and hold politicians to account for their lack of addressing disability issues. The disability community makes up a significant part of the UK population and can significantly influence the outcome of this election. It is essential that their voices are heard and their rights are at the heart of the political debate in the run up to voting day.
The 2024 election manifesto reflects a worrying lack of priority for disability rights in UK politics and highlights the significant work that remains to be done. Clearer, more comprehensive policies that address the immediate needs of disabled people while also addressing longer-term system reform are urgently needed.
The challenge facing people with disabilities and their allies now is to harness their collective power, demand meaningful engagement from political leaders, and promote a society that truly values fairness, dignity, respect and support for all its citizens. Only through sustained activism and political engagement can the disability community hope to create a future where their rights and needs are not relegated to the backburner at the centres of power.
Looking to the future, it is clear that the fight for disability rights in the UK is not over yet. The 2024 general election marks a key juncture and an opportunity to refresh the political landscape and ensure that the rights and needs of disabled people are no longer ignored or downplayed.
The disability community needs to continue to organize, advocate and make their voices heard. They must demand that political leaders take the Disability Manifesto seriously and work to build a nation that values equality, dignity, respect, trust and support along with other social priorities.
Our political system must be focused on helping people with disabilities live the lives they are entitled to. This is a goal that no candidate can achieve alone, no matter how polished their performance under the bright studio lights. It will take the concerted efforts of people with disabilities, their allies, and society at large to create the systemic changes that are needed.
As we move forward, we must remember that disability rights are human rights. The fight for disability rights is inextricably linked to broader struggles for social justice, equality and human rights. By placing the voices and experiences of disabled people at the centre of political debate, we can work towards a more inclusive, accessible and fair society for all.
The 2024 general election may have exposed the flaws in our current political system regarding disability rights, but it also offers an opportunity: a chance to reframe the dialogue, demand better from our leaders, and build a movement that can bring about real, lasting change.
As voting day approaches, let us not forget the power of collective action and the strength of community. Together, people with disabilities and their allies can make space for ourselves and our ideas, and unite the energy, commitment and skills of our communities to build a new future in which disability rights are not just an afterthought, but a fundamental pillar of our society.
The road ahead may be long and difficult, but the risks are too great now to hesitate. The fight for disability rights in the UK is not just about policy change or manifesto promises. It is about recognising the inherent dignity and worth of every individual, regardless of ability. It is about building a society that truly works for all.
As we vote and look to the future, let us hold our leaders to account, amplify the voices of disabled people, and work tirelessly for a fairer and more inclusive Britain. The time for change is now, and the power to create that change is in our hands. Let’s seize this moment to build a future where the rights of disabled people are not only respected, but celebrated; a future where every individual, regardless of ability, can live a life full of dignity, independence and fulfillment.