UKDPC Election Issues

Finally we have entered the race to find the next party to run the country. The date has been set (May 6th) and in the weeks between now and then the MPs will be fighting for your votes.

As a Disabled People’s Organisation (DPO) you will probably want to raise some issues that are specifically relevant to disabled people. You might talk face-to-face with your prospective MPs about these things. You might write a letter listing several questions and asking for specific answers. Or you could even organise a “Question Time” type of activity, with your DPO as the Chair, and a representative from each of the political parties answering questions from the audience.

This is a great opportunity to raise disability issues with the people who will represent your local area. Using this list you can put disability issues at the front of MP’s minds, to make sure our voice is heard in the corridors of power.

The MP’s answers may help you, and other local disabled people, to make up your minds about who to vote for on May 6th.

Check out our Manifesto in the "Latest News and Events" page. Here are some of the key things you might want to talk to your prospective MPs about –

Disability Hate Crime

What do your prospective MPs think about Disability Hate Crime?

Do they know what it is?

What do they intend to do to reduce this terrible crime?

How will your prospective MPs work with their local DPO to combat this crime, to provide a safe place for disabled people to report this crime, and to raise awareness about the devastating impact this crime has on individual disabled people?

The Human Rights Act

What will your prospective MPs do to ensure the full implementation of the Human Rights Act across the UK?

How do they propose to monitor the implementation of the Act?

What role do your prospective MPs see for DPOs in monitoring and implementing this legislation?

UK Equality Bill

The Government has proposed a new Equality Bill which aims to make anti-discrimination legislation simpler and stronger. However we at UKDPC are concerned about several things, including –

It’s difficult to understand – how will your prospective MPs make sure it is understood by all disabled people?

It does not give us proper protection - how will your prospective MPs make sure it contains proper protection for all disabled people?

It won’t make it easier for us to get justice - how will your prospective MPs make sure it is possible for all disabled people to get the protection they need?

How do your prospective MPs think that DPOs can help in the implementation and monitoring of this important piece of legislation?

The Personalisation Agenda

This is where your local authority gives money, power and control to individual disabled people to make key decisions in our lives. The local authority does this as well as providing services directly to their local population.

What do your prospective MPs think of the current personalisation agenda?

Will your prospective MPs keep this work going?

What role do your prospective MPs see for DPOs in helping role out this work across your region, across neighbouring regions, and across the country?

How do your prospective MPs plan to reduce a ‘Postcode Lottery’ of provision across the UK?

DPOs taking on more and more local authority work

As part of the Personalisation, and other, agenda, DPOs are being expected to take on more and more local authority work.

How do your prospective MPs think they can help DPOs to do this?

Will they provide core funding for DPOs?

How do they think these organisations can take on this extra workload without significant core funding?

What do your prospective MPs think about DPOs being in competition with each other for local authority services?

There will probably be local issues relevant to disabled people in your area, which you can add to this list. Let us know how you get on (contact Theo at theo.blackmore@ukdpc.net) - Happy campaigning!