Neurodivergent Labour has significant concerns regarding the recent announcements contained with the Queen’s Speech 2021.
ND Labour is concerned that the Queen’s speech does not provide enough detail on future reforms of social care and does not seek to reverse the drastic cuts that have impacted the care many neurodivergent people need. It also does not seek to resolve the huge issues that neurodivergent people have faced during Covid-19, including little or no contact from social workers or social care, worsening isolation, lack of access to mental health services and other support services and little or no access to support groups.
ND Labour welcomes moves to ban ‘conversion therapy’, but we have huge concerns about potential loopholes within the proposed legislation and the delay to publication of legislation due to a national consultation. ‘Conversion therapy’ causes considerable mental and physical harm to those who are subjected to it and holding a consultation on it is unnecessary and fails to protect the LGBTQIA community. The legislation does not seek to go far enough, by only banning ‘coercive’ conversion therapy rather than banning this abhorrent practice outright. These practices are also used as a basis of abusive ‘therapies’ aimed at neurodivergent people.
We oppose the government’s plan to pursue legislation introducing Voter Identification (ID), due to the impact this will have on the accessibility of elections for those who are neurodivergent. Research shows that those who are neurodivergent, otherwise disabled, young, trans, black or ethnic minority are less likely to possess valid photo ID. The cost of photo ID may be prohibitive for many, and even if it is provided without charge, the extra hurdle of obtaining ID puts a barrier in the way of those who find such processes difficult, which includes many people who are neurologically atypical. This will prevent people accessing the basic human right of voting in elections. It amounts to discrimination and voter suppression.
We will challenge these at every chance we can, and we will continue fighting for equality for all neurodivergent people.