Neurodivergent Labour is a relatively small organisation, with an Executive made up entirely of volunteers and funded only by membership subscriptions. Although this has made it difficult to carry out all the activity we would like to, we believe that our achievements this year have been remarkable given our size.
Labour Party policy review
ND Labour submitted a summary of our manifesto to the Labour Party Policy Forum via its website. It received many supportive comments and ‘votes’. Despite this, the Policy Forum report did not refer to it – or even mention neurodiversity – at all.
We campaigned for Labour Party conference to ‘refer back’ the relevant section of the report, which would require the Policy Forum to review this and include neurodiversity policy. Lewes Constituency Labour Party and the TSSA trade union submitted the reference back, and around 200 Labour members added their names to a statement in support of it. Labour Hub published an article written by our Chair.
Our Chair proposed the reference back at conference and delegates passed it by a resounding majority. We are now arranging a meeting with Anneliese Dodds MP, who convenes the policy forum.
Justice
ND Labour submitted lengthy evidence to the Ministry of Justice on neurodiversity in the justice system, including testimony from several of our members. We published a series of graphics to highlight the key points of our submission.
Our Vice Secretary attended a meeting alongside other organisations with Ministry of Justice, and raised many issues, including how inaccessible the consultation itself had been and the importance of getting the language right, and pressed the case for the demands in our submission.
Following the meeting and a second (more accessible) consultation) the MoJ made six short recommendations, but warned that it would take time to implement them.
Osime Brown
Along with other groups, we played an important role in the successful campaign to stop the deportation of Osime Brown, a neurodivergent young black man imprisoned unfairly under the unjust ‘joint enterprise’ law. ND Labour co-organised several demonstrations and Twitter storms, got two national trade unions to support the campaign, brought other labour movement campaigns into involvement, promoted the petition, and secured the support of our Parliamentary patrons.
GRT video
We published on our YouTube channel a video of Hann Sutcliffe interviewing fellow ND Labour Executive member Nikki Hughes about issues affecting neurodivergent Gypsy, Romani and Traveller (GRT) people.
BAME working group
Our working group on involving more black and ethnic minority members has generated some good ideas, but we have not made as much progress with implementing these as we had hoped.
Statements
In addition to several statements on Justice and the Osime Brown campaign, we circulated statements about:
• Holocaust Memorial Day (27 January)
• Budget Day – full sick and isolation pay (3 March)
• International Day for the Elimination of Racism (21 March)
• Victory against ‘easements’ (5 April)
• Queen’s Speech: bad news for neurodivergent rights (19 May)
• The government’s National Disability Strategy (2 August)
• Health and Disability Green Paper – don’t attack our benefits! (17 August)
May elections education event
In the run-up to May’s local elections, we held an online discussion about what neurodivergent people want from local councils. Speakers were John McDonnell MP, Gethin Jones (PCS member, prison service worker), Nikki Hughes (ND Labour Executive), Andrew Beery (Islington Unison) and Joan Martin (Osime Brown’s mum). There was an excellent discussion, which you can watch on our YouTube channel. Transcripts of the opening speeches are on our website.
Autistic Pride
ND Labour submitted two videos that were broadcast as part of Autistic Pride in June – one introducing ND Labour and what we stand for, and the other on neurodivergent GRT issues (see above). They were well received, and can be viewed on our YouTube channel.
Interview with Ben and Emma
We interviewed Ben and Emma, non-speaking autistic activists in the USA, who featured in the film The Reason I Jump. You can read the interview on our website.
Speaking at CLPs
Executive members have spoken at the following Constituency and District Labour Parties: Leeds West, Leeds Central, Norwich, Reading, Nottingham East, Brecon and Radnorshire. Our presentations were very well-received and have helped us to develop contacts in those areas.
Membership
Our current membership is around 250. It has grown steadily throughout the year, although we have lost some members who resigned from the Labour Party.
We now have a working joining form on our website, and have established a Mailchimp account to send e-newsletters to members.
Executive and meetings
The Executive has faced various challenges this year, including the ongoing difficulties related to the pandemic, and some members having to resign their posts for various reasons. However, we have continued to function as well as can be expected. The Executive makes decisions at its regular (currently, online) meetings, and between meetings in an online forum.
Website and social media
We run our website, ndlabour.com, a Facebook group and Twitter account.