Monday, 27 April 2015

Disabled Voters Feel Ignored

With the General Election happening shortly, 79% of disabled voters feel that the parties have so far not focused enough on the issues that affect them.


Disability charity Papworth Trust surveyed over 1,000 disabled people about the top 3 issues for them in the upcoming general election. 72% of respondents chose the NHS and health among their top 3. The second most popular issue was immigration (in the top 3 for 46% of respondents) followed by welfare (in top 3 for 34% of respondents).

Of those questioned, 72% said they were certain to vote and 92% said they were more likely than not to vote.


Papworth Trust believes that the parties are missing a trick as there are 12 million disabled voters in the UK, and in such a tight election, every vote counts. It has hosted workshops to help people register to vote and has held 4 hustings to enable them to question their local candidates.

It will also encourage people to use their vote by holding a Twitter takeover on 6 May. This will be an opportunity for customers to use the charity’s official Twitter account to communicate why they are voting, through text and pictures.

Papworth Trust Chief Executive Vicky McDermott said,
“We’d like to see the parties pledge more help for disabled people to get into work, and to be able to live in their own home.”

The charity will continue to run its poll for disabled voters online at:
www.papworthtrust.org.uk/useyourvote

Do you feel ignored?

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