Guide dogs take the biscuit at Labour conference
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.LABOUR has come up with a new weapon against dissent at its party conference - dog biscuits, writes Marie Woolf.
Free dog food and bowls will be handed out to blind delegates for their guide dogs along with the agendas and security passes next month. The move is intended to head off any repetition of last year, when blind delegates complained about their treatment from the floor.
Talking signs, which respond to movement, will be positioned around the hall and "enablers", who help disabled delegates around the conference, will take guide dogs out for walks along the Bournemouth sea front.
Around 40 to 50 blind and partially sighted people are expected at the conference this year. Labour has set up a special working group to make sure that they are properly treated.
Last year several blind delegates complained that their dogs were gasping for water, and that there were no braille conference documents available.
David Blunkett, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment, who brings his own guide dog, Lucy, to conference, was personally concerned that the situation should be improved this year.
Soon after last year's conference Millbank approached the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) for help in improving facilities. The party has now invested in a mobile braille transcription machine which can translate political documents.
The Labour conference will coincide with the coming into force of a new law making it illegal to discriminate against disabled people.
"At last we are seeing equality of opportunity in action," said Alan Thomas, Parliamentary Officer of the RNIB. "The innovations the Labour party are introducing should enable blind people to play a full part at the party conference."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments