Joint statement: Scrap the coronavirus act provisions

We the undersigned call on the Government to restore and protect the rights of disabled people by removing the powers from the Coronavirus Act 2020 which diminish the rights of those who rely on social care and education support. These powers were opposed by disabled people and allies, when they were introduced, have caused confusion and harm when operated and led to reductions in care, support, safeguards and education for disabled adults and children.

The evidence is clear as to the lethal and disproportionate impact this pandemic has had on disabled people. ONS figures show that disabled people have made up two thirds of all Coronavirus deaths and people with health conditions have been the hardest hit. Research from Mencap shows that seven in ten people with a learning disability reported having their social care cut during the pandemic. With the potential of a second wave, it is imperative that the rights of disabled people are protected, not diminished.

The Coronavirus Act contains provisions allowing local authorities to reduce vital social care duties, weakens support and education for disabled children and young people, and enables the removal of basic legal safeguards that could severely impact the rights of people coming into contact with the mental health system.

At a time when people need care, support, safeguards and education the most, the powers for central and local government to reduce their legal responsibilities to disabled people are wholly unacceptable.

Our lives must be valued equally. Removing our rights causes us disadvantage and discrimination, and puts our mental and physical health and our lives at risk.

As the Coronavirus Act approaches its six-month review, now is the time to recognise the devastating impact the exercise of these powers has had and to restore the legal rights of disabled people.

Signed by

Baroness Jane Campbell of Surbiton
Action Disability Kensington and Chelsea
Action on Hearing Loss
Alliance for Inclusive Education
Being the Boss
Black Belt Advocacy
Breakthrough
British Institute of Human Rights
Business Disability Form
Camden Disability Action
Camden Disability Association
Chronic Illness Inclusion Project
Directory of Social Change
Disability Advice Service Lambeth
Disability Network Hounslow
Disability North
Disability Peterborough
Disability Positive
Disability Rights UK
Disability Sheffield
Divers Cymru
DPAC North East and Cumbria
Evenbreak
Greater Manchesert Coalition of Disabled People
Greenwich DPAC
HAFAL
Hammersmith and Fulham Coalition Against the Cuts
Harrow Association of Disabled People
Harrow Mencap
Inclusion Barnet
Inclusion London
KeyRing Living Support Network
Leeds Disabled Peoples Organisation
Leicestershire Centre for Independent Living
Leonard Cheshire
Liberty
London Autistic Rights Movement
McPin
MENCAP
Merton CIL
National Survivor User Network
National Voices
People First Self Advocacy
POhWER
Reclaiing our Futures Alliance
Rethink Mental Illness
Richmond Aid
RNIB
Royal College of Occupational Therapists
RUILs
SCOPE
SENSE
Shaping our Lives
Spectrum Centre for Independent Living CIC
Sunderland People First
The Challenging Behaviour Foundation
Visual Impaired in Camden
VoiceAbility
Wheels for Wellbeing
Wiltshire Centre for Independent Living
WinVisible
Wish
Women’s Resource Centre