Reshuffle and reselection
Posted by Kate Green, MP for Stretford and Urmston, at 11:10, Fri 11 October 2013:
We’ve had a reshuffle of Labour frontbench responsibilities in parliament this week. I’ve moved from working on women and equality issues to be our spokesperson for disabled people.
I know from constituents just how much there is to get my teeth into with this portfolio. Disabled people have been hit hard by austerity cuts: 9 times as hard as non disabled people, according to disability campaigners.
That’s a disgrace. We should be doing more to ensure disabled people enjoy the same life chances as non disabled people, not penalising them more.
Many disabled people would love to have a job. But you’re much less likely to be working if you have an impairment. And if you are in work, it’s probably in a job below your level of skills – and, on average, you’ll be earning less than your non disabled peers.
Living with an impairment is expensive. Although disability living allowance, now being replaced by the personal independence payment, is meant to help meet some of the extra costs faced by disabled people (such as the need for special equipment, or extra heating bills, or laundry costs), the budget for PIP isn’t adequate, and many disabled people face poverty because they don’t have the income to meet these extra costs.
And we all know about the effect of cuts in local authority budgets, which mean services from day centres to home care visits to respite for family carers have all taken a huge hit.
Just after I was asked to take on this job, I slipped a disc in my back. I’ve been struggling to move around, to lift and carry day to day items, even to get in and out of bed, as a result.
Even though I’ve had to manage with a bad back for for only a few days, it’s been a real insight into some of the challenges disabled people who have mobility problems experience.
Our world just isn’t designed for those who can’t leap on and off buses, lift their shopping into the boot of the car, or stand for more than a short period.
It’s certainly given me food for thought as I settle into the new role.
Meanwhile, back home, I’m absolutely delighted that the members of Stretford and Urmston Labour Party have just reselected me to be the Labour candidate for this constituency at the next general election, in 2015.
It is such a privilege to be the MP for this great community. Since my election in 2010, I’ve met literally thousands of local people and community groups, and I want to thank everyone for the warm welcome you’ve given me. I’ve learnt so much from you over the last 3 years.
My Labour colleagues and I are out and about week in, week out in the constituency, trying to meet as many of you as possible to hear what’s important to you. But, most importantly, if you’ve got a strong view about what you want to see change or improve in our area, you need to make sure you have your say by using your vote!
Over the next few weeks, Trafford Council will be contacting every household to make sure everyone who’s eligible registers to vote. And it’s really important you don’t miss out. Every election, we are contacted by distraught supporters who want to vote, yet don’t find out until it’s too late that they’re not on the electoral register.
Don’t let that happen to you. If you haven’t had the forms from the Council, call up the Trafford electoral registration office on 0161 912 3013. And if you’re a young person coming up to voting age, make sure you get on the register in time for your 18th birthday. You can do that once you reach age 16 years old.
I hope at the next election you’ll vote Labour. But even more important, I want everyone, whatever their politics, to make sure to use their vote.
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