Labour backs away from McDonnell’s calls for a shadow minister for neurodiversity

Last Updated: June 4, 2016By

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The Labour party has refused to back calls from its own shadow chancellor to create a shadow minister for neurodiversity.

The support for the idea from shadow chancellor John McDonnell came after a disabled campaigner wrote an open letter to new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn last year.

In the letter, Monique Craine praised Corbyn’s decision to appoint a shadow minister for mental health, but said she now wanted to see him do the same for neurodiversity.

Last month, McDonnell tweeted: “I am supporting call for Labour to develop an Autism Manifesto and appoint a Shadow Minister for Neurodiversity & will consult on details.”

And this week, Craine was reported to be meeting McDonnell (pictured) to discuss the idea.

But despite McDonnell’s backing, the party has refused to comment on the idea of creating a new shadow ministerial position for neurodiversity.

Source: Labour backs away from McDonnell’s calls for a shadow minister for neurodiversity

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4 Comments

  1. Neilth June 4, 2016 at 12:46 pm - Reply

    This is an important issue in that people with disabilities related to neurological conditions including autism and other inate conditions and acquired problems such as those caused by mechanical injury or developmental based illnesses need to be represented and their rights and needs be acknowledged and respected.

    I’m not sure that a separate cabinet post is needed but certainly the equalities minister should be urged to spend more time remedying the neglect and inequalities suffered by people with these conditions as well as the attacks on their support from the DWP.

  2. Roland Laycock June 4, 2016 at 3:15 pm - Reply

    John McDonnell’s idea is spot on

  3. mohandeer June 5, 2016 at 3:29 am - Reply

    Shame that Corbyn has not put his weight behind McDonnell’s proposal, it is not an unreasonable suggestion.

  4. Ted Alleyne June 5, 2016 at 2:28 pm - Reply

    “Refusing to comment” isn’t quite the same as “backing away from”. A matter for careful discussion and decision I would have thought. You can’t have a shadow minister for everything….

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