Our friends at Inclusion London have launched a a #NoMoreNoShows campaign to ensure that candidates for the upcoming general election attend disability hustings, rather than sending replacements or not turn up at all!
This followed an event when three candidates to be the next mayor of London refused to explain why they failed to turn up to a packed hustings event that would have allowed disabled people from across the capital to question them on their policies.
Just one of the four candidates invited, Zoë Garbett, for the Green Party, turned up to answer questions at the sold-out event, with more than 100 people attending, and about another 100 watching or listening online.
Svetlana Kotova, Inclusion London’s director of campaigns and justice, told the event as it began that she and her colleagues were “deeply disappointed” at the failure of the three candidates to attend. She said:
“We did everything we could to convince them to come … we’re really, really concerning for the democratic process; we think it’s really important that candidates talk to disabled people and hear from disabled people.”
Inclusion London’s co-chair, Adam Gabsi, who was chairing the hustings event, told Disability News Service (DNS) afterwards that Hall, Khan and Blackie had been invited in “numerous ways” but had still not attended. He said:
“Hustings are an integral part of the democratic process and ignoring disabled people gives us the impression that our concerns are not worthy of being listened to and our votes are not important. This is an election year and disabled people deserve better treatment.”
Laura Vicinanza, policy and stakeholder engagement manager for Inclusion London, added:
“We are deeply disappointed that of the four parties represented at hustings, only the Green Party sent their mayoral candidate … our rights as disabled people must be valued and upheld by all our elected representatives.
Read the full story on the Disability News Service website.
Description of cartoon for those using screen reading software
A corpulant white man in a grey suit is standing holding a glass of wine and an invitation from Inclusion London to attend a disability led hustings. He is also sporting a blue rosette with ‘Vote for me’ printed upon it. Opposite him is an older white woman wearing a purple top and dress with matching beads, earings and handbag. She is also holding a glass of wine. The man is saying: “Why would we like to attend a disability led hustings?”. The woman replies: “Quite right dear – you might catch something!”
Crippen Cartoons 