Hansard

I welcome today’s debate. I thank Jeremy Balfour for bringing the motion, which I supported, before the Parliament. I agree with much of what he has said and I did not realise that that might be one of his last speeches in the chamber.

Strengthening disabled people’s representation is not a peripheral issue. It is central to building a democratic system that works for everyone. Lived experience enriches our scrutiny, improves our legislation and ensures that policy is grounded in the reality of people’s lives.

Throughout my time in the Scottish Parliament, particularly through my work on health inequalities, diabetes and lung health, I have seen at first hand how crucial lived experience is to good policy making. As co-convener of the cross-party groups on diabetes and lung health, I have had the privilege of hearing directly from people managing long-term conditions, many of which are invisible and misunderstood. Their insights have shaped our understanding of the challenges that they face and the actions that are needed to tackle those challenges. That reinforces why people living with a disability or hidden conditions must be included at every stage of political and policy development. Their exclusion has real, measurable consequences.

Misunderstanding continues to be one of the greatest barriers that people with hidden disabilities face. A person living with type 1 diabetes may struggle with glucose levels, which can sometimes change unpredictably. I know that because I am one of those type 1 people. Someone with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or severe asthma may live each day managing breathlessness. However, because those conditions are not visible, many people feel judged, doubted or dismissed when they ask for the support that they need. The stigma stops people participating fully in society, and it prevents far too many people from considering roles in public life.

Raising awareness of those challenges has been an important part of my work, whether during debates on topics such as world COPD day or world diabetes day, or through engagement with communities across my South Scotland region.

However, awareness alone is not enough. We need structural change. I therefore welcome the Scottish Government’s efforts to embed disabled people’s voices into policy making, including through the disability equality plan. Developed in co-production with disabled people’s organisations, the plan commits to building disability competence across Government and includes targeted investment to address long-standing barriers. Initiatives that are supported by the Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland such as strengthened mental health support, improved advice services and the Cabinet takeovers by disabled people’s organisations, the most recent of which happened in February, demonstrate a growing commitment to meaningful engagement.

Representation matters deeply. Disabled people remain significantly underrepresented in elected office, not because of a lack of ability or ambition but because of the barriers that they collectively face, which need to be removed. The access to elected office fund, which was created by the Scottish Government and delivered by Inclusion Scotland, has shown what is possible when proper support is provided.

We must continue to build on that progress. The evidence is clear that disabled people face higher levels of poverty, poorer health outcomes and barriers in employment, housing and education. Those inequalities intersect with the inequalities facing people with other protected characteristics. That alone makes the case for ensuring that people who have a disability help to shape the policies that directly affect them. Empowering disabled people strengthens our democracy and leads to fairer, more compassionate decisions.

I welcome the cross-party commitment that we will have today, and I reaffirm my commitment to working with colleagues and communities to remove those barriers and support disabled people’s full and equal participation in Scotland’s political life.

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