1.  INTRODUCTION

  1.1  It is widely acknowledged, agreed and documented that disabled and non-disabled people are not equal. There is a vast amount of evidence that, due to societal barriers, disabled people are more likely to be unemployed and lower qualified with poorer health and fewer life chances than our non-disabled peers.

2.  EVIDENCE

  2.1  The disproportionately low number of openly acknowledged disabled people in Parliament both reflects and perpetuates the inequality between disabled and non-disabled people. In addition, it:

— Perpetuates the myth that disabled people do not or cannot hold positions of power.

— Suggests that disabled people do not or cannot represent non-disabled people.

— Does not provide a representative range of role models or promote career progression for disabled people within politics.

— Does not enable Parliament to reflect the depth and breadth of the society that Members are serving, which cannot lead to rounded debates.

— Does not result in disabled people considering themselves to be adequately represented in Parliament, potentially causing voter apathy and lack of engagement with the political system amongst disabled people, which ultimately impacts on democracy.

— Raises public expectations in the Members who are disabled (or are assumed to be) that they will work on all issues relating to disability and/or disabled people and that they are "experts" in disability issues.

  2.2  There are many reasons why there is a disproportionately low number of disabled people becoming Members of Parliament, including:

— A disparity between the educational and social opportunities experienced by disabled and non-disabled young people which impacts on political aspirations and skills.

— A widespread, societal assumption that disabled people are passive and without self-determining power, which can result in a lack of self-belief and empowerment.

— Negative attitudes towards disabled people lead to low expectations amongst political party officers and staff that result in a lack of support for disabled people wanting to enter and take part in the political process.

— Physical barriers throughout the campaigning process, including political party meetings being held in inaccessible venues, a lack of BSL interpreters etc.

— An inflexible and/or inadequately funded support system for potential candidates who require personal assistants, support workers or interpreters (eg the cost of a personal assistants, BSL interpreters etc. necessary to attend late night debates or the election count may prohibit a disabled person from attending).

— A lack of portability (being able to move social care funding packages between local authorities) results in many disabled people being unable to move around the country without risking losing their support package, therefore limiting their political future to one geographical area.

— The personal financial cost of the journey towards selection (eg training courses, deposits, etc.)

— Consultation fatigue. Many disabled people have considerable experience of being consulted without seeing any positive outcome, which does not encourage active engagement in any political process.

— The visible working practices of Members of Parliament are not flexible enough to take account of a wide variety of impairments, eg people with fluctuating energy levels, people who require a support worker to assist in the understanding of complex language, people who require physical assistance on a regular basis.

  2.3  There are many actions that could be taken by the Government and/or political parties to address the current disparities in representation, including

— Publish statistics relating to numbers of self-declared disabled people currently sitting as Members of Parliament, as is current practice around gender and ethnicity.

— Set targets and goals to encourage political parties to challenge their current practices.

— Set up and/or fund training schemes to support and encourage individuals from under represented groups to engage in the political process.

— Publicise and promote the role of Members of Parliament and other roles within Government and the political process to de-myth the assumption that under represented groups "don't belong".

— Improve physical access to Parliament and particularly the House of Commons.

— Initiatives such as Better Governance for Britain should make explicit reference and have specific regard for disabled people.

— Ensure that the equality duties, both now and under the Single Equality Act once it becomes law, are enforced and used to encourage political parties to practice fair selection and the removal of disabling barriers.

— Work with organisations of disabled people to encourage and support disabled people to become leaders, increasing skills, confidence and aspirations for a career in politics.

— Employ more disabled people at all staff levels.

— Publish open statements of support for increased representation from leaders across Parliament and at local and regional level.