Disabled people
who want to become councillors or MPs will have access to a fund
to help them overcome the barriers they face, under proposals
published by the Government today.
The fund is just one part of a planned £1 million package aimed
at improving access to elected office for disabled people.
Proposals also include the creation of new training and
development opportunities and the introduction of a mentoring
programme that will allow aspiring disabled politicians to learn
from people who have already made it to the top.
Home Secretary and Minister for Equalities Theresa May said:
"It's not fair that someone who has the right
to take an active role in our democracy is prevented from doing so
simply because they are disabled. If political representatives at
all levels - from Downing Street to district councils - are to
truly represent the views and needs of the communities they serve,
they need to better reflect those communities. Disabled people are
under-represented in politics, and this package of support will
help remedy that."
Minister for Disabled People, Maria Miller said:
"Far too often disabled people still encounter outdated
attitudes that prevent them from doing the things everyone else
takes for granted. A recent survey showed that nearly four in ten
people thought disabled people could not be as productive as
non-disabled people and three quarters of those surveyed thought
disabled people needed care for all or some of the time.
"Attitudes like this show that there is still a long way
to go to break down barriers and challenge prejudices. By
supporting more disabled people who want to take leadership
positions in politics we can help change those perceptions and
make people see that when it comes to disability it's not
what someone can't do but what they can."
Minister for Political and Constitutional Reform Mark Harper said:
"Diversity of talent and experience is vital in
politics, where important decisions are made that affect everyone.
This is why we're committed to identifying and tackling
barriers that prevent under-represented groups from participating
in political life. No-one should be denied the opportunity to
participate in our democracy just because they are disabled, and
addressing this is an important part of our commitment to
reforming and restoring trust in our politics as a
whole."
Richard Hawkes, chief executive of disability charity Scope said:
"We are delighted the Government is proposing to
introduce more financial support to help disabled people who want
to take part in public life. Disabled people want to enrich our
political debate but continue to be under-represented in public
life due to a range of barriers they face, including negative
attitudes and increased costs if they require specific equipment
or support. With the localism agenda progressing, and the
Government considering ways to devolve more powers to local
communities, it is even more imperative that we readdress this
under-representation."
Liz Sayce, CEO of disability charity RADAR, said:
"We strongly welcome this strategy to increase the
numbers of disabled people who work in public office. RADAR has
supported several disabled people to stand for election and to
successfully become local councillors or mayor through our
Leadership Programme. We know the talent and experience disabled
people can bring as well as the barriers they still face. We need
more initiatives to give disabled people the confidence, the
practical support and the flexibility to become a local councillor
or MP. Having more disabled people included in decision making
means local and national policies are created which reflect what
everyone wants and needs in their communities."
Full
details of the plans are contained in a consultation that was
published today. The Government is seeking views from across the
community, including disabled people and those involved in the
political process at all levels.
The consultation, which follows a coalition agreement commitment
to introduce extra support for disabled people who want to become
MPs, councillors or other types of elected position, will run for
three months, with the scheme expected to launch in late 2011. It
is a joint project being run by the Government Equalities Office,
the Office for Disability Issues (part of the Department for Work
and Pensions) and the Cabinet Office.
GEO2/2011
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The proposals will apply to candidates who are applying to the
following list of elections; UK Westminster elections, English
local elections, Greater London Authority (GLA) elections, English
Mayoral elections and Police and Crime Commissioners.
2. The access to elected office scheme is being funded from the
Government Equalities Office's budget.
3. Full details of the consultation can be downloaded from the
Government Equalities Office website at http://www.equalities.gov.uk
Contacts:
Government Equalities Office Press Office
Phone: 0207 035 7035
enquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Government Equalities Office Out of hours
Phone: 07500 816 959
enquiries@coi.gsi.gov.uk