A deaf Leeds woman who sued the government for lack of sign language interpreters at Covid briefings has won compensation.
Katie Rowley, a self-employed actor and writer, took action against Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove.
She said the government had breached obligations to make broadcasters accessible to deaf people under equality legislation.
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However, lawyers representing Mr Gove said her claims should be dismissed as ministers disputed this.
Today (Wednesday), judge Mr Justice Fordham made a ruling in Ms Rowley’s favour.
He said the absence of any British sign language(BSL) interpretation for “data briefings” on September 21 2020 and October 12 2020 constituted “discrimination” against Ms Rowley.
Officials said there had been more than 170 Covid briefings and “only two” had been found to be unlawful because British sign language was not provided on screen.
Mr Fordham said damages would be assessed by a judge in a county court and added that the government was not “in present or continuing breach”.
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Coronavirus briefings have been used by the government as a way to keep the public informed of important details and advice during the pandemic.
Similar briefings by Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, his Scottish counterpart Nicola Sturgeon and from Stormont in Northern Ireland included British Sign Language interpreters on screen.
A Cabinet Office spokesman said after the ruling: “We are pleased that the court ruled our policy of using on-screen British Sign Language interpreters was lawful during the pandemic.
“Our priority has always been to reach the largest possible audience with important public information, and we will continue to ensure that British sign language interpretation is made available during Covid-19 briefings.”
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