London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Government disability strategy risks becoming a ‘car crash’, says Tory peer

Government disability strategy risks becoming a ‘car crash’, says Tory peer

Lord Shinkwin warns PM he must listen more to views of people with disabilities before releasing report
The launch of the government’s long-awaited disability strategy risks becoming a car crash if ministers do not do more to listen to the views of people with disabilities before releasing it, a Conservative peer has said.

Lord Shinkwin warned the prime minister that releasing a report that is roundly rejected by people with disabilities would greatly undermine his levelling-up agenda, after campaigners complained bitterly that the consultation process that informed it was seriously flawed.

“It gives me no pleasure to say that if the strategy is launched next week, the government will be looking at another car crash that will make the launch of the recent ethnicity and racial disparity commission report look like a PR triumph,” he said.

Shinkwin, chair of the Centre for Social Justice’s disability commission, said that while he did not feel the Tory minister for disabled people, Justin Tomlinson, should lose his job, he did feel he should hand over more control for drawing up the strategy to people with disabilities.

The government had promised to publish the disability strategy aimed at removing barriers to participation in everyday life. But there have been lengthy delays over its release.

However, it is the consultation process that preceded it that has angered many campaigners, who argue it was flawed, saying its format did not allow them to properly describe the barriers that exist.

They have also said that insufficient weight was given to the views of people with disabilities. Sarah Gayton, from the National Federation of the Blind of the UK, called it “shocking” and said it indicated the “contempt the government has” for people with disabilities.

She added that people had complained that simple elements of the consultation, such as a facility for uploading video for those who communicate using sign language, did not work.

“Producing a strategy for disabled people without proper engagement is unacceptable,” said Kamran Mallick, the chief executive of Disability Rights UK.

Mallick said the government had been told by the committee on the rights of persons with disabilities to engage more readily with people with disabilities after a review four years ago. “The next review is coming up and we have made no progress.”

He added: “Time and time again, disabled people and our organisations have asked and told the government to fund structured independent engagement.”

Doug Paulley, one of four people who successfully persuaded a high court judge to allow them to challenge the lawfulness of the process earlier this month, said: “The consultation was ridiculous, pointless, ill conceived and insulting. It was not fit for purpose in any way. Basing the national disability strategy on it would be very problematic, or using it to inform said strategy in any way.”

He added: “I’m glad that the judge evidently thinks that there are sufficient issues with the consultation that it should be subject to judicial review. But I’m sad this is necessary; that the government failed to interact with disabled people and their organisations in any meaningful way.”

On 13 July, the high court granted permission to apply for judicial review of the consultation process, agreeing there was an arguable case against its lawfulness and that to hear it would be in the public interest.

And some campaigners have called on Tomlinson to go. “I have little confidence in Justin Tomlinson or his approach to and impact on disabled people’s rights in general,” said Paulley. “Do I think this judicial review should make him go? It would be wonderful, but I doubt it will.”

Gayton agreed, saying Tomlinson “needs to step down over this, walk away and let someone who will fight for the rights of disabled people come in”.

A government spokesperson said: “This has been the biggest listening exercise on disability policy in recent history and it means the strategy is a practical response to the issues disabled people face in their everyday lives.

“Putting the voices of disabled people at the centre of government policy is integral to the strategy and the minister is passionate about learning from and being guided by that experience. This strategy is a concerted, comprehensive endeavour to bring about lasting change.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×