Caroline Dinenage, MP

Minister for Equalities

Department for Education, Ministerial & Public Communications Division

Piccadilly Gate, Store Street

Manchester

M1 2WD

 

Date: 12 January 2016

 

Dear Caroline,

 

 

We are writing to urge you to reach a positive decision on the future of the Access to Elected Office Fund, and to do so in time to benefit disabled candidates planning to stand in this May’s elections.

 

As your predecessor, Helen Grant MP, noted in February 2014, “disabled people are still under-represented in politics and a strong democracy is an inclusive one. That is why we need to do more to encourage a diverse mix of candidates and role models to better reflect the society we live in.” We strongly agree, and believe it is essential to create a level playing field for disabled candidates.

 

In June 2015, in response to written questions by Kate Green MP, you stated that “no decision has been made on the future of the AEO Fund pilot, pending an evaluation which is currently being undertaken”, and that the evaluation report “will be completed this month, when final claims have been settled for candidates who stood in the May 2015 elections.” 

 

That was seven months ago; the evaluation report has still not been published, and your recent answer to a written question by Caroline Lucas MP states only that a decision will be reached “early” this year. 

 

In September, in its submission to the UN Special Rapporteur on Disabilities’ inquiry into disabled people’s right to participate in decision-making, the Equality & Human Rights Commission identified “five key actions to smooth the pathway to politics for the disabled”, including:

 

“The UK Government should reopen the AEO Fund in England, and work with the Scottish and Welsh Governments to explore options for making the scheme, or similar funds, available across Great Britain.”

 

We see no good reason why the Government should not follow the EHRC’s recommendation, and urge you to complete the evaluation process as a matter of urgency, so that disabled people planning to stand in May’s local and regional elections can access much-needed financial support.

 

We are copying this letter to Maria Miller MP, chair of the Women & Equalities Committee.

 

Yours sincerely,

 

Ben Howlett, Conservative Party

 

Kate Green, shadow women & equalities minister, Labour Party

 

Alistair Carmichael, home affairs lead, Liberal Democrats

 

Liz Saville Roberts, equalities lead, Plaid Cymru

 

Angela Crawley, equalities lead, Scottish National Party

 

Caroline Lucas, Green Party