POLITICS: LONG LABOUR INDICTMENT OF SNP ON BROKEN PROMISES TO DISABLED PEOPLE

By Democrat reporter

Scottish Labour has criticised the SNP’s record of “broken promises” towards Scots with disabilities.

According to Labour, the SNP government has reneged on a number of pledges to improve the lives of those with disabilities and learning disabilities, as well as failing to put in place the right support in health, social care, education and social security.

Scottish Labour has highlighted the following failures:

• Promised annual health checks for people with Learning Disabilities are still not in place, despite a target of 2023.
• The £10 million Changing Places Toilets Fund announced in 2021 has still not been delivered.
• The Scottish Human Rights Commission has warned that people with learning disabilities and autistic people’s human rights are being undermined by a lack of progress supporting independent living.
• The Disability Equality Plan has not been updated and disability organisations have withdrawn support for the government’s plans.
• The promised Disabled Young Person’s Transitions Strategy to support young disabled people has been repeatedly delayed.
• The SNP’s flagship National Care Service Bill fell apart, with no meaningful plan for social care put forward in its place.
• The SNP’s 2021 manifesto promise to scrap non-residential social care charges has still not been delivered.
• Legislation such as the Learning Disabilities, Autism and Neurodivergence Bill and the Human Rights Bill were kicked into the long grass.
• The number of ASN teachers plummeted despite the number of ASN pupils soaring to record levels, with Audit Scotland stating that “the Scottish Government has failed to plan effectively for its inclusive approach to additional support for learning”.

The party criticised this “record of continual failure” and pledged to deliver where the SNP has failed.

Scottish Labour Equalities spokesperson Paul O’Kane, left,  said “As is so often the case, there is a gulf between the SNP’s rhetoric and its delivery when it comes supporting disabled Scots.

“From delays to key funds and strategies to failures on health, social care and education, disabled people are being betrayed by the SNP.

“The crisis in our NHS is leaving many disabled people languishing on waiting lists, waiting for treatment and barred from the world of work.

“Behind the SNP’s supportive facade there is a litany of broken promises and a record of continual failure.

“A Scottish Labour government will put an end to SNP failure and ensure tackle the barriers facing disabled Scots across society.”