After a week of there being no Minister for the 14 million disabled people living in the UK, the government performed a U-turn and Mims Davies was appointed to take on the role, with the title of ‘Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work’, but she remains a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State. Her predecessor Tom Pursglove was a Minister of State – a higher status within government.

Disability Rights UK, an organisation that campaigns for disabled people and their rights, had written to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, urging him to reverse his decision to scrap the role of Disability Minister. They highlighted the government’s traits of deprioritising disability rights.

The actions of the government, despite their eventual u-turn, indicate that the needs of disabled people aren’t a priority for the UK government and that ‘relegating’ the needs and lives of disabled people should not be their policy choice to make. The government signed up to The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), but Disability Rights UK says that the UK government continues to violate its obligations.

Disability charity Sense said the job of Minister for Disabled People was ‘a vital role in government to ensure disabled people’s interests are represented’ and it should not be taken on by someone who was ‘already juggling other responsibilities’.

Another charity, Scope, described the ‘downgrade’ as ‘an appalling and retrograde move’.

Conservative MP, and for me a Tory MP who possesses decency and integrity, Caroline Nokes; Chair of Commons Women and Equalities Committee said:

“[The move] sends entirely the wrong message when it’s clear disabled people want more influence over the strategies, action plans, and policies affecting them. It would do nothing to stop disabled people feeling further disempowered.”

A government spokesperson said Mims Davies would ‘build upon this government’s track record of supporting disabled people’.

Make what you will of their ‘track record’ and decide for yourself: do you feel more empowered?

  • Ben is a media contributor for United Response.