London, the West Midlands and the Northern Powerhouse will be the engines of our post-coronavirus recovery. But while they take the lead, it’s vital that disabled people’s financial well-being isn’t affected disproportionally by the downturn.
A poll by Savanta ComRes, showing 56 per cent of UK adults think that will happen, underlines the urgency. It’s timely that today a new Disability Commission, which I chair, is being launched with the Centre for Social Justice. Members include figures from Deloitte, EY, Clifford Chance, the City Bridge Trust and Parliament. We’ll feed into the PM’s National Disability Strategy, promoting equality of opportunity and private-sector best practice, and asking questions about the value for money of taxpayer-funded programmes.
Our message — “Levelling up: it’s time to get it done.” Few papers have as fine a campaigning pedigree as the Standard. I hope we can count on its support.
Lord Shinkwin
Editor's reply
Dear Lord Shinkwin
I know you have devoted much of your life to campaigning on behalf of disabled people. The backdrop against which your commission will conduct its important work has changed dramatically. Now unemployment stalks the land, and the key issue is whether the huge progress over 10 years in getting disabled people into work will be undone. Yet there are also positive lessons. In this crisis we’ve learned how technology enables people to engage with the workplace and society even if it is physically difficult. If your commission can tell us what lessons we should learn from lockdown, it will do a fine job.
George Osborne, Editor
Dom’s disrespect
I supported the Tories in the last election. I’m working class but was not confident in Jeremy Corbyn. But I was dismayed after seeing Dominic Cummings yesterday. His obnoxious behaviour beggared belief. How disrespectful to key workers who really are saving lives.
Aidan Walker
