Responding to the publication of the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper, Business Disability Forum has called for proper consultation with disabled people.
Business Disability Forum’s Head of Policy, Angela Matthews, said:
“Michael Gove, the Secretary of State of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has declared: ‘The United Kingdom is an unparalleled success story’. Unfortunately, for many disabled people, this is far from the reality of their everyday lives.
“To truly make a difference, Levelling Up must not just be about putting a financial figure next to a final output, but must address first and foremost the processes and principles of co-production that help deliver truly equitable and meaningful outcomes for every single person in the UK. We need to hear more from the Government on how this will be achieved, particularly in relation to disabled people. The Government has been widely criticised, recently, for failing to properly consult with disabled people.
“Good policy making is not about final outcomes for a majority of people – it is about good outcomes for all. This means everyone being involved, everyone being heard, and every single person being able to trust that decision makers at the heart of central and local government understand the reality of how disabled people live their lives and to see this reflected in policy making.”
“We look forward to seeing how the needs of disabled people will be reflected in the detailed and strategic plans behind each of the high-level missions mentioned today.”
