AN OSWESTRY councillor who is registered disabled and a campaigner has said she is not shocked by the Government’s decision to downgrade the role of disability minister.
The move was confirmed by Rishi Sunak’s government last week after the role had been vacant for a number of weeks after a reshuffle saw Tom Pursglove MP leave the position.
It has now been given as extra responsibility for Mims Davies, a parliamentary under secretary who had previously been responsible for safeguarding in the UK.
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Councillor Gemma Cassin, who is registered blind and is also deaf, has worked in the charity sector for a number of years and champions disability issues for Oswestry Town Council.
She said that news of the treatment of the role is of ‘no surprise’ to her by a Government that she says does not support disabled people.
She said: “Unfortunately it’s not a surprise that the government have downgraded the Minister for Disabled People role to a junior ministerial position or that it took a week to so.
“Disabled people are not a priority.
“All 16 million of us. Anyone who has ever applied for disability benefits will illustrate the treatment we receive.
“Those being found fit for work when everyone around them including their medical team knows they are not.
“The recent changes to universal credit including scraping the work capability assessment will make it even harder and force more disabled people into poverty.
“It is the Government's job to lead.
“To highlight equality for marginalised groups. But we are not the only community they have let down and disappointed.”
Mr Pursglove, was made minister for legal migration this month.
Disability charity Scope said was the longest gap without a minister in post in the past 30 years.
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James Taylor, its director of strategy, described the move as ‘appalling’.
He added: “What kind of message does this give to Britain’s 16 million disabled people? That in the middle of a cost of living crisis we are now less important?”
A government spokesperson told The Guardian that Ms Davies would ‘build upon this government’s track record of supporting disabled people, having delivered millions of cost of living payments and helping over one million more disabled people into work five years earlier than planned’.
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