I suppose I shouldn’t really be surprised when I read that Scope, formerly The Spastic Society, has partnered with a “scaremongering” national newspaper notorious for its hostile coverage of disabled people and other marginalised groups.
The Daily Express has been listed as the official partner for Scope’s second Disability Equality Awards, which took place in London recently. This came just days after the right-wing newspaper horrified many disabled people with its front-page headline: “PM tells sick note Britain: Get a grip and a job.”
The Express was a particular focus for anger during the early austerity years, with headlines such as “Sick benefits: 75 per cent are faking”, and the impact of its disablist coverage was highlighted in reports published by disabled people’s organisations such as Disability Rights UK and Inclusion London.
Yen Godden, a disability advocate, commented:
“I am shocked that Scope has chosen to partner with the Daily Express … Scope has a section on their website about reporting disability hate crimes and incidents yet seems to miss the glaringly obvious fact that the Daily Express has consistently stirred up hatred and mistrust towards disabled people and continues to do so.”
Disability advocate Sara Westrop added that, as a disabled non-binary person, they were surprised to hear of the partnership:
“Considering the numerous ways they have contributed towards the increasingly hostile environment in the UK directed towards disabled people and trans people. The Express also regularly shares articles painting disabled people as drains on society, resources and money … also showing support for Sunak’s barbaric reformation of disability benefits.”
Accessibility consultant Julia Peyser Gutiérrez Anstey was also critical of the partnership. They said:
“The Daily Express has and continues to directly harm the disabled community by framing us as benefit scroungers and wasters of NHS money. The fact that they are partnering with Scope does not take back any of the immense harm they have done to disabled people.”
Asked why the charity thought it was appropriate to partner with the Express when it had a long history of discriminatory, hostile and disablist coverage, a Scope spokesperson said:
“We work with journalists from across the political spectrum … because of the influence they have on our society. Having the Express spotlight stories from our nominees allows us to reach new audiences, and bring positive messages about disability to people that we would otherwise be unable to reach.”
Makes you wonder if the people at Scope have actually read the Daily Express?!
For the full story please read the Disability News Service report.
Description of cartoon for those using screen reading software
Two faceless, white males in grey suits and with ‘Daily Express’ name badges around their necks, are standing either side of a smiling white woman who is typing at a computer wearing a Scope name badge. The two men are also holding pieces of paper with ‘75% of disabled are fakes’ and ‘Disabled are all work-shy scroungers’ on them. On the floor at their feet is a copy of Disability News Service with the headline: ‘Scope partner up with hostile Daily Express’. The first man is saying: “So that’s agreed – we portray Scope as the real voice of disability …”. The second man adds: “And we continue to rubbish those so-called disabled activists!” In the background is one of Scope’s old plaster collection figures – a young girl wearing a leg brace and a collection box with ‘Help the Spastics’ printed upon it. She is thinking: “And just as I thought that we were making some progress!”.
Crippen Cartoons 