Disability Representation in Labour

I have been lucky enough to have support from three fantastic organisations throughout this process. Disability Labour. Disability Equality Act Labour and Project 125 have been with me from the very start of this selection, providing unerring support and advice and continually promoting the role that disabled individuals have to play in Labour.

Project 125 aims to support disabled individuals to gain seats within Parliament, working up to proportional representation of one hundred and twenty five disabled MP's. We currently have five, The selection process is uniquely challenging for disabled candidates. We generally have a lower income, which makes financing a campaign difficult, difficulties surrounding ease of access to events and cost of travel, entirely aside from the routine challenges that often develop alongside long term disability.

To help to counter that, DEAL is working towards the adoption of the Disability and Equality Act by Labour, so that we are legally more responsive to the needs of disabled applicants and are removing common barriers that discourage people from standing, and reduce their chances of succeeding.

As Labour, we need to be representative and to be taking action to make ourselves so. I aim to be at the forefront of making this happen, and to be able to be part of it within my own community is both a privilege and an honour.