Bring back dedicated disabled minister role, say charities
The new minister said she will have a ‘continued focus on social mobility’ while taking on her new disabled people, health and work role.
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Your support makes all the difference.A dedicated ministerial position for disabled people must be reinstated, charities said as they accused the Government of “downgrading” the role.
Mims Davies said she is “honoured” to have been given the role as minister for disabled people, health and work, but confirmed she will have a “continued focus on social mobility”.
She was appointed minister for social mobility, youth and progression last year.
Organisations in the disability sector said it should not be the case that a minister focusing on issues affecting them should also be “juggling other responsibilities”, and called for a dedicated minister of state position to be reinstated.
The previous minister for disabled people, Tom Pursglove, was made minister for legal migration earlier this month.
Downing Street on Thursday rejected a suggestion that the move to make two ministers responsible for migration but no one solely for disabilities amounted to “downgrading” the role of minister for disabled people.
Following Robert Jenrick’s resignation as immigration minister over the Government’s Rwanda plan, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak split ministerial responsibility for legal and illegal migration.
Alongside Mr Pursglove as minister of state for legal migration and the border, Michael Tomlinson – who was previously solicitor general – is minister of state for countering illegal migration.
Disability groups had voiced concerns over how long the minister for disabled people role might be left vacant and have reacted with outrage at not having a minister dedicated solely to that role.
A No 10 spokesman rejected suggestions this was a “downgrading” of the role and, when pressed on the fact the minister will not be dedicated solely to disability issues, he said: “What you will continue to see is a Government showing strong support for disabled people and for disabled issues.”
Disabled people have been waiting a week for an announcement on who will have responsibility for disability in Government. And now we're seeing a downgrading of the role
Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, who chairs the 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” and said it would “do nothing to stop disabled people feeling further disempowered”.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Ms Davies pledged to “work as hard as I can to ensure disabled people’s voices are heard loud and clear”.
She added that she would “continue to champion opportunities, progression & life chances with my new portfolio”, and would have a “continued focus on social mobility – both reflecting the voice & needs of young people in DWP & all across Govt”.
Disability charity Sense said the job of minister for disabled people is “a vital role in Government to ensure disabled people’s interests are represented” and insisted it should not be taken on by someone who is “already juggling other responsibilities”.
The Minister will help ensure there is always a strong safety net for the most vulnerable in our society, while tearing down barriers so that every disabled person can realise their potential and thrive
Disability equality charity Scope said: “Disabled people have been waiting a week for an announcement on who will have responsibility for disability in Government. And now we’re seeing a downgrading of the role.
“We’d urge the Government to reinstate the dedicated Minister of State position, to reflect the need for the UK’s 16 million disabled people to be treated as a priority.
“We need full-time leadership of disability strategy in Government, to make sure policy doesn’t leave disabled people disadvantaged.”
The National Autistic Society called for clarity on the remit of the role, adding: “It needs to be clear about why a more junior ministerial role is sufficient to tackle the inequalities disabled people face.”
The organisation added: “The uncertainty of the last week has caused understandable anger and upset for autistic people and the Government will need to act quickly to put that right.”
A Government spokesperson said: “Minister Davies will build upon this Government’s track record of supporting disabled people, having delivered millions of cost-of-living payments and helping over one million more disabled people into work five years earlier than planned.
“The Minister will help ensure there is always a strong safety net for the most vulnerable in our society, while tearing down barriers so that every disabled person can realise their potential and thrive.”