The two Conservative candidates to be the next prime minister are both refusing to face questions at an event organised by disabled members of their own party.
As reported in Disability News Service (DNS) Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak have both ducked out of attending hustings events for the Conservative leadership race organised by the Conservative Disability Group (CDG) and the Conservative Mental Health Group. They will each instead send MPs to answer questions on their behalf.
Truss is sending Chloe Smith, the minister for disabled people, to answer questions from CDG members tomorrow (Friday), while Sunak will be sending disgraced former health and social care secretary Matt Hancock to speak for him a week later, on 26 August.
It also emerged this week that both Truss and Sunak have failed to respond to a letter from more than 50 disability organisations that called on them to ensure they put disabled people at the heart of any government plans to address the cost-of-living crisis.
Vicky Foxcroft, Labour’s shadow minister for disabled people, said:
“The leadership candidates need to engage with disabled people, including their own activists, if they are serious about improving their lives and helping them deal with the daily pressures. It’s sad to see that both Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak are unwilling to do this.”
Hmmm … and we thought that we had it bad with Boris!
Description of cartoon for those using screen reading software
Caricatures of Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak are standing side by side. They each have a ‘vote for me’ label attached to a lanyard around their necks. Truss is saying: “At least we’re consistent with our approach on disability issues …” Whilst Sunak replies: “Yep – neither of us give a flying fuck!”
Crippen Cartoons 