Dr Brian Iddon MP Calls on Government to End Disability Poverty

Dr Brian Iddon MP is backing a new campaign to make tackling disability poverty a top government priority.

The MP for Bolton South East has backed a Parliamentary motion supporting a new report from Leonard Cheshire Disability which found that disabled people are twice as likely to live in poverty as non-disabled people. 

The report, ‘Disability poverty in the UK’, also found that on average disabled people’s basic day-to-day living costs are a quarter (25%) higher than those of non-disabled people, because of extra expense on essentials such as mobility aids, care and transport.

Dr Iddon MP said:

“Leonard Cheshire Disability’s report highlights the extent of the links between disability and poverty – I believe that more must be done to break those links.

“Many disabled people can face additional costs, which can leave those on low incomes having to take impossible decisions about whether they pay utility bills or pay for their care, or pay for food or essential mobility equipment.

“I know from speaking to disabled people and their families in Bolton South East that this is an important issue. It simply can’t be right that disabled people are twice as likely to live in poverty as non-disabled people, which is why I’m backing this campaign.”

1. Leonard Cheshire Disability’s report, Disability Poverty in the UK, can be found here www.lcdisability.org/?lid=6367

2. The report looks into many different issues such as the quality of housing, the accessibility of shops, education, employment and income levels in order to assess the extent of disability poverty in the UK.

3. Dr Brian Iddon MP signed Early Day Motion (EDM 637) the text of which can be viewed here: http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=34790&SESSION=891