Meeting of the Parliament 05 March 2026 [Draft]
I am grateful to colleagues across the chamber for their support for the motion. I am sad that it has not gained the support of all parties in the Parliament. I hope that that is not a comment about their support for disabled representation, which is an issue that I am sure all reasonable members can agree is worthy of parliamentary time. I say gently to my former colleagues in the Scottish Conservatives that the fact that none of them has supported the motion reflects on the party that I no longer recognise in regard to disability issues. For two other parties to feel that disability is not an important enough topic for them to even attend the debate speaks of where we are and where we still have to go.
The core of this afternoon’s motion is laid out in its first line:
“That the Parliament recognises the value of lived experience in informing effective scrutiny and legislation and ensuring that those views are embedded across legislation passed at the Scottish Parliament”.
If we hold that to be true, we owe it to the people of Scotland, whom we serve, to make a conscious effort to ensure that Parliament looks as similar to the people whom it serves as possible.
In the time that I have been in Parliament, we have made progress. We have seen changes in legislation that give greater protection to people with disabilities. We have seen the Scottish Government pick up the challenge around changing places toilets. We have seen more money go to disability charities. However, we still face some major issues.
This morning, I received an email that said:
“Glasgow IJB ended its funding for Scottish Huntington’s Association to provide specialist services on 1 January—a decision condemned by cross-party MSPs and further called into question by Glasgow City Internal Audit. One thing is beyond dispute: Huntington’s families were not consulted. A decision was made about that community without its knowledge or input. That should not be so.”
There are still people with certain disabilities, such as learning disabilities and hidden disabilities, who are not getting the coverage, help and support that they deserve and require. There are also issues around employability. Too many people—again, particularly those with learning disabilities—are not getting the employment that they want and are capable of carrying out. I have to say that I think the Parliament missed an opportunity when it decided not to appoint a disability commissioner. I understand the arguments that were brought by some against doing so, but I think that the disability community is still struggling to come to terms with that decision.
To be more positive for a moment, a couple of Saturdays ago, the minister, Pam Duncan-Glancy, Emma Roddick, Carol Mochan and I held the disability summit here in the Parliament. Such events help to inform policy and decisions. It was a great success. Almost every desk was filled by people with lived experience of disability. I am pleased that the summit has been held for a second time and hope that, whoever comes back after the election, it will become a biannual event. Unfortunately, although such events are vital in making the voices of disabled people heard, they do not come along enough.
We have to examine what outcomes came from the disability summit and what real differences it will make to the lives of people with disabilities. As I said, progress has been made in representation across protected characteristics, even during my 10 years in the Parliament. However, we must recognise that we still have a significant way to go. Only 5 per cent of MSPs have declared a disability but, in Scotland, 25 per cent of people have a recognised disability. That difference is unacceptable and something needs to be done about it. Let me be clear: I do not blame the electorate. I am here thanks to the people of Lothian region. Other members who have disabilities are also proof that people in Scotland are not against electing members with a disability. The issue is that not enough is being done to encourage disabled candidates to stand.
I understand that that is a somewhat cheeky point to make now that I sit as an independent but, having been a member of a party for 40 years, I think that all parties in and outwith the Parliament need to do much more to attract people with disabilities. Encouraging and promoting disabled candidates must start at the grass roots and parties should do everything in their power to make the election process as accessible as possible. However, it goes beyond that. What do we expect of our members?