Disabled councillor angered at lack of support for re-election

People with disabilities are angry they are not being given an equal opportunity to stand for election.

Harriet Clough, a wheelchair user, currently represents Bristol’s Hengrove and Whitchurch Park ward but is not seeking re-election because government support was “quietly killed off”.

Paul Welton, a deaf candidate for the Portishead East by-election, said he had been denied government funding for a sign language interpreter at the count or a briefing.

The Cabinet Office, which previously offered grants of up to £40,000 to help with election-related activities like canvassing or getting or hustings events, said it was up to political parties and local government to support disabled candidates.

Councillor Clough, a Liberal Democrat, said: “As a result of my disability degenerating I’ve shifted into a wheelchair full time over the course of the five years I’ve been elected.

“I was replaced as a candidate because I couldn’t participate in campaigning. The local party can’t necessarily afford (the support). My support worker costs about £20 an hour. That rapidly adds up. For a BSL interpreter you could be looking at £150 an hour.

“I understand it. It doesn’t stop it being disappointing. It’s very expensive being disabled in politics. There should be no decision made about us without us.

“For Bristol I was one of four in our chamber with a disability. I was the second wheelchair-using councillor Bristol City Council had ever had. The chamber is going to be less diverse from a disability point of view.”

Harriet says she “understands” that it is expensive to support disabled candidates, but that the lack of support is still disappointing. Photo: Bristol City Council

Welton, a Lib Dem candidate, said: “In 2021 disabled people should have the same opportunities as others. I am disappointed that the Government Equalities Office are preventing disabled candidates from accessing support.

“They are denying me access to the communication I need to run for public office as a deaf candidate, rather than enabling access to myself and other deaf candidates.

“Disabled residents shouldn’t have to constantly remind public bodies of our needs, if elected as a local councillor I hope to use my position to break down barriers for disabled people and all residents in North Somerset.”

The Lib Dems have committed to support Welton.

Lee Starr-Elliott had been a deaf candidate for Hengrove and Whitchurch Park until was deselected by Labour. He said: “I feel that both the government and wider political arena has failed disabled people. I think regardless of political party a conversation is needed to allow real democratic participation from one of the biggest percentages of minorities within the UK at all levels.”

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A government spokesperson said: “Political parties and local governments have a responsibility to attract and support disabled candidates. We want to see more disabled people in our public life, which is why the government set up the EnAble fund as an interim measure, while parties put proper support systems in place.

“Ministers wrote to parties for an update on their progress and we will continue to engage constructively with disability charities and electoral administrators in this area.

“An evaluation of the EnAble Fund is due to be published shortly, which will help inform future policy development on how we can best support both those standing for public office and those who hold public office.”

The £250,000 EnAble Fund ran until 2020.

Also standing in the Portishead East by-election are Sophie Davies (Labour), Caroline Goddard (Portishead Independents) and David Oyns (Conservative).

Stephen Sumner is a local democracy reporter for North Somerset.

Main photo: LDR

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