Opinion:

Please bear with, this may get long. I tend to post then tidy when I have had a few option to reread. It’s just how my mind works best. I am also visually impaired so miss errors. Please feel free to point any out.

The DWP currently estimates there are 16.1 million people in the UK considered disabled in some way. 24% of the population.

However accurate that number may be. When you add friends. family and supporters. It is more than enough people to be an electoral force.

So the big question I feel the need to ask. Why the hell do the 2 main parties suddenly feel so free to attack this community. Because to be clear here, the last 14 years have definitely been an attack on the disabled community. While despite a number of Labour MPs complaining. Labours leadership seems happy to blame all the economic woes of the UK on our community.

I am not going to get too politically biased here. But for info I am more left wing then current labour leadership, Likely a little less so the Corbyn was.

But this is really no longer a left vs right issue. As in the current UK FPTP system, no left off-centre party has any ability to stand up for us.

The issue is very like any other single issue political problem. Any voters will be divided across other issues. So as long as no one side stands up for the issue above all else. No party has much to lose by ignoring our issues.

But single issue parties have managed to influence the main parties. Simple, by threatening their votes rather than actually winning seats. The most prime examples are UKIP and the Green Party. Neither party managed to get a huge % of voters to support them. Less so in any dense enough area to create enough MPS to have any power. But however much you may like their politics or not. They were able to move enough votes from the main parties to worry them into support for the cause.

So here is a proposal I’d like to hear people’s views on.

Is it time for the “Disability Rights UK” Party to form.

Honestly, this is just the start of an idea. And the name is no more than a suggestion.

I in no way expect this party to ever win 325+ MPs, and if it somehow did. I’d suggest we have a declared plan to join the 2nd party to implement the manifesto we come up with. And then call a new election. I personally do not think any single issue party can truly run a nation alone.

I think the more likely event is we can use our approx 16m potential supporters and convince them voting for us across the nation will slowly force the main parties to take our issues, needs, support and input to society seriously. Force them to realise we have an option to come together and force them to pay attention. Rather, than use us as some invisible enemy they can use to satisfy their own needs.

    • HumanPenguin@feddit.ukOPM
      1·
      15 days ago

      Be careful not to split the vote.

      Sorry you fail to understand my point. Splitting the vote is the whole threat.

      All those other parties consider disabilities an option. So disabled are split between them. But FPTP means they will never actually have an effect beyond their own major issues. If any at all.

      UKIp and green won by making one issue important enouth that supporters of the main parties threate d to splt over that one issue. Forcing the main parties to adopt their issue.

      At 16m people we are not all left wing. But we all carr about the rights and image of disabled people. The 2 main parties dont.

      Groups like this are designed to be a threat. To allnparties but mainly the 2 who actually have a chance of leading the nation atm.

      Take our issue seriosly or you may lose the votes needed to win.

        • HumanPenguin@feddit.ukOPM
          1·
          15 days ago

          –But how many people would want to use their political influence to protest on any one issue when there are so many important problems?

          At least as many who did exactly that over the leaving the EU in 2010. Not enough to win a single MP, but more than enough to scare the Tories into a referendum.

          And way, way less than the number of disabled people whose life has been destroyed by the methods of the DWP since that date.

            • HumanPenguin@feddit.ukOPM
              1·
              15 days ago

              Yeah, but for a sizeable proportion of the disabled. This issue has no choice but to be their main priority. Their ability to live and interact with the world as an equal member is dependent on these issues.

              And the actions of both the tories and labour. Make it clear the whole 16m disabled population can be ignored while any other priority exists.

              Like you I am left. While I agree with your past assessment of disabled right support. We have no right to assume all disabled consider their needs more important than their political views. Honestly, it is only those most at risk and venerable who have no choice but to do so.

              But has been shown in the past. (by ukip unfortunatly) even the viable threat of a single issue party can threaten others.

              Our population is so large we can use it as a threat.

              put bluntly.

              Labour and tory are the only parties currently able to win. If things contine as they are. Reform and lib dem may get to coalition positions.

              But if between now and the next election a sizable % of the 16million start polling towards a party criticizing all the disability misinformation and standing for the rights of disabled.

              All 4 of the above parties may genuinely start to panic. As the tories did in 2010 when they offered a ref.

              As all parties did in the 80 when they started supporting green issues.

              Once all 4 parties start to see a risk in attacking the disabled community. Their policies towards us will as well.

              Think of it as the political equivalent of MAD. If you refuse to consider the rights and respect of almost 25% of your population. That population can turn to political Armageddon. I assure you many who have been through the PIP rejections and court cases over the last 14 years. are in the low millions. and the reallyt feel like it has been a war.