Well, there we have it. Labour has finally appointed its disability ‘dream team’ with the new minister for disabled people pledging to put disabled people’s voices at heart of government’s work.
Sir Stephen Timms has been appointed the New Minister for disabled people along with Alison McGovern as minister for disability employment and Stephen Kinnock as the new minister for care in the department of Health and Social Care whoes responsibilities include adult social care, health and social care integration, and – unexpectedly – “disabilities and SEND” (special educational needs and disabilities).
Among the responsibilities of the new transport secretary, Louise Haigh, will be “ensuring the transport network is safe and accessible”, although responsibilities of her ministers have not yet been announced, so it is not clear who will lead on accessible transport.
Quickly spotted by John Pring, Editor Disability News Service (DNS) who noticed that Sir Stephen will not be responsible for disability employment within the Department of Work and Pension (DWP), after the Labour government appears to have split that policy area from social security, a decision that is likely to be welcomed by many disabled people.
As a senior MP with decades of social security experience under his belt it is hoped that he will start to shed some light upon the shambles left behind by the Tory government. He will lead on “disability policy” and will assume “cross-government responsibility for disabled people”, as well as oversight of the Disability Unit.
Amongst his responsibilities will be universal credit, personal independence payment, ESA, housing, carer’s allowance, and the serious case panel, which was set up by DWP to examine “serious cases” and “serious systemic issues”, including deaths of claimants.
This will mean he will be responsible for long-standing concerns about claimant deaths, including those linked to universal credit. Despite repeated concerns being raised in recent months about safeguarding and deaths linked to universal credit, none of the main political parties mentioned the issue in their election manifestos.
Quoted in Disability News Service, Sir Stephen said:
“I am delighted as minister for social security and disability to be taking on the government lead for disabled people.
“I will ensure disabled people’s views and voices are at the heart of all we do.”
The Department, DNS editor John Pring’s book on DWP and how its actions led to countless deaths of disabled people in the post-2010 era, will be published by Pluto Press on 20 August. Visit TheDepartmentBook.com before publication for a 50 per cent discount
Crippen’s own book ‘Crippen and the COVID years’ is also now available from his online book store with ‘Crippen and the DWP’ due to be released next month.
Description of cartoon for those using screen reading software
The cartoon is based upon the new appointment of Labour ministers for disability matters. A caricature of Sir Stephen Timms stands alongside Stephen Kinnock MP. Another suited man is sweeping away large pieces of paper with Tory Sleaze, COVID, Party Gate and Tory Cover-up printed upon them. Timms is holding up a large card with ‘deaths of disabled benefit claimants’ on it. He is saying: “And there will be some issues that just can’t be swept away!”
Crippen Cartoons 