First Minister letting down disabled over failure to support Welsh champion, says Plaid AM

Plaid Cymru’s Social Services spokesperson Lindsay Whittle says the First Minister is failing to stand up for disabled people by not supporting the establishment of a Disability Commissioner for Wales.

Eleven out of 12 disability organisations have told the office of the South Wales East AM that they back in principle the idea of a Commissioner to act as a champion.

Lindsay Whittle has quizzed the First Minister on the issue but says he has been left bitterly disappointed by the response of Carwyn Jones.

Lindsay Whittle said: “A Commissioner would provide a strong voice for disabled people in the same way that the Children’s and Older People’s Commissioners do.

“A Commissioner is needed to promote and safeguard the interests of people who are too often subjected to harassment, bullying, discrimination and, in some cases, physical attack.

“The First Minister, in failing to stand up and support the idea of a Commissioner, is letting down disabled people. I can’t understand his reluctance given the overwhelming support for the idea from disability charities.

“He has previously said that if a strong case is made for a Commissioner, it is something the Welsh Government will take into consideration. Well, here we have 11 out of 12 disability organisations supporting the establishment of a Commissioner and he still dismisses the idea. The First Minister needs to stop playing party politics that only serves to further disadvantage disabled people.”