The Labour Party has launched a manifesto for disabled people, promising a raft of measures to improve their lives.
Ahead of the 12 December election, the party is promising reforms to benefits, action on the disability employment gap and more inclusive education.
The party has vowed to ensure a disabled child on universal credit (UC) receives the same amount as one on child tax credits (CTCs).
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says the treatment of people with disabilities by the Government should be a “source of shame”
At the moment, children on CTCs get an additional £35 a week.
Labour manifesto for ‘independent lives’
Labour says its manifesto, titled Breaking Down Barriers, will help people live independent lives.
Statistics show that, overall, 52.6 per cent of people with disabilities had a job between April and June. Meanwhile, for those without a disability, it was 81.5 per cent.
But the proportion of people with a learning disability in work is much lower, at just 6 per cent.
Large numbers of pupils with autism are excluded from school every year. The National Autistic Society says 47 per cent of all permanent exclusions involve children with special needs.
Treatment of disabled people is ‘s0urce of shame’
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the treatment of disabled people by the government was a “source of shame”.
The Lib Dems have vowed to ensure that long-stay hospitals for people with autism and learning disabilities close urgently.
Up to 2,220 people were in one of these hospitals at the end of October. More than half (57 per cent) had been there for more than two years.
Dr Sarah Wollaston, Lib Dem candidate for Totnes, said her party would end the special needs education crisis. It would do that by halving the amount schools pay towards a child’s education, health and care (EHC) plan.
Autism Eye asked the Conservatives about their plans for people with autism and learning disabilities, but they did not respond.
Related:
- Labour plan ‘ignores special needs’
- Charity slams Labour over ‘neurodiversity’
- Join me to hire more disabled people
- Tory plan hits learning disabled
- Scandal of child mental health spending
- MPs back call to cut school exclusions
Published: 7 December 2019
