Rishi Sunak has scrapped the dedicated post of disabilities minister — during UK disability history month.
Downing Street confirmed on Thursday that an “existing” minister will be handed the disabilities brief on top of their current job.
It was later announced that health minister Mims Davies will take on responsibility for disbaility issues.
She said: “I’ll work as hard as I can to ensure disabled people’s voices are heard loud and clear.”
Until last week the position was its own minister of state level job, having first been created when Labour came to power in 1997.
Davies holds the more junior parliamentary under-secretary post and shadow disabilites minister Vicky Foxcroft said that showed the disabilities brief had been “downgraded”.
The last MP to hold the standalone disabilities role was Tom Pursglove, but he was made minister for legal immigration earlier this week.
The prime minister also appointed Michael Tomlinson as minister for illegal immigration.
It means there are now two dedicated immigration ministers but no specialist disabilities minister.
The move comes during UK disability history month, which runs from November 16 until December 16.
Sunak’s official spokesperson denied the change was a “downgrading” of the role.
“It’s not right. We will have a minister for disabled people who will lead on that important work,” the spokesperson said.
“It is actions that matter. What you will continue to see is a government showing strong support for disabled people and for disabled issues.”
But Foxcroft said: “Shocking that Rishi Sunak has chosen not to appoint a new minister for disabled people, health and work.
“After 13 years of Tory austerity, pandemic and cost of living crisis, disabled people feel their voices aren’t being heard and represented in Government. This confirms it.”
James Taylor, director of strategy at disability equality charity Scope, said: “This is an appalling and retrograde move by the government.
“What kind of message does this give to Britain’s 16 million disabled people? That – in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis - we are now less important?
“Life costs more if you are disabled. There hasn’t been cost of living payment for disabled people this winter. And negative welfare rhetoric has ramped up this year.
“We must have a Minister for Disabled People in government, to be a champion of disabled people and disability, and make sure policy doesn’t leave disabled people behind and disadvantaged.”
A government spokesperson said: “Minister Davies will build upon this Government’s track record of supporting disabled people, having delivered millions of cost of living payments and helping over one million more disabled people into work five years earlier than planned.
“The minister will help ensure there is always a strong safety net for the most vulnerable in our society, while tearing down barriers so that every disabled person can realise their potential and thrive.”