Disabled people to protest against ‘sham’ DWP disability panel – here’s how to take part

Two disabled people’s organisations have come together to take a stand against the latest way the government is performatively pretending to include disabled people in policy that affects us via its so-called DWP Disability Advisory Panel.

The hot mess that is the DWP Disability Panel

As the Canary revealed a couple of weeks ago, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) unveiled their new Independent Disability Advisory Panel, which would supposedly ensure disabled voices had a say and influence DWP policy. But of course, that’s only how it appears on the surface. The panel will be made up of just 10 disabled people.

As I said at the time:

It’s absolutely preposterous that after claiming the government would be working with disabled people to co-produce policy that will affect our lives, they are letting just 10 people participate. But then, isn’t that just typical of a system that gives us the bare minimum and expects us to be grateful for the scraps?

There are also concerns of just how much work the department expects the panelists to do in such a short space of time, as I detailed here. And because the payment will be on PAYE, the panellists will then have their Universal Credit cut if they take part.

The biggest concern from DDPOs and disabled people is about the fact that to take part in the panel, you have to sign a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) which would stop you from sharing concerns about the meetings, panels, and policies with your network, as well as online or to the press – making disabled people complicit in whatever dangerous policies the DWP is planning.

Timms’ attempts to placate have backfired

As I reported last week for the Canary, Minister for Disabled People Stephen Timms had attempted to placate DDPOs about the panel, but he actually just ended up skirting around the issue of NDAs. As I wrote:

On this, Timms gave what sounds like the usual round-the-houses answer. He told the meeting there was no expectation to sign the NDA; however, if you didn’t sign the NDA, you wouldn’t be allowed to attend closed-door meetings. He also said that not all meetings would come under the NDA, so you’d be perfectly fine to talk about those as you wished.

After fears of becoming complicit if DDPOs support the panel, or direct their members towards applying, it appears two organisations are taking a stand.

DDPOs demand #NoShamPanel of the DWP Disability Panel

Disability Rebellion and Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) Cymru are holding an online protest across two days. On Saturday 27 and Sunday 28, they’re asking disabled people to take part in #NoShamPanel and have created a protest page where you can find all the details.

Seemingly controversially, the groups will still be encouraging disabled people to apply to the panel, but there’s a twist. They want disabled people to apply in protest, specifically in section 5, where the form asks you to give details why you want to take part, the groups are asking disabled people to leave a “protest statement” which details why you think the panel is unfair.

They’ve recommended you say:

I want to make the panel a genuine independent panel. This means that I will not sign any gagging clause. I will insist on the panel voting on how it is run, when it meets, what it discusses, and who it invites. I will insist we vote to elect our own chair. I will insist we are democratic and transparent.

They’ve also suggested that if you want to make a stand about payment, you can also say:

I refuse to accept the insulting pay offer, capped at £300/month, for what will be expert work.

The groups have laid down some rules they want people to follow, because more than anything, they want to make a statement:

You can be firm with your objections, but please don’t say anything rude or abusive. Please don’t use a fake name or address – if you are submitting anonymously, just say so. Please only send one application. This is so that you don’t get in trouble, and so that we respect the other people applying.

Details of how to fill in the form, including a draft easy-to-follow application form, can be found on the protest page, as well as extra information about the protest.

Disabled people can’t be complicit in cuts

The groups are also asking that disabled people spread the protest far and wide. Once you’ve submitted your application, DPAC Cymru and Disability Rebellion want everyone to share that they’re taking part and why using the hashtag #NoShamPanel, including the link so others can join in.

The groups said:

The government says it’s setting up a group of disabled people to give advice. They are calling this the Independent Disability Advisory Panel. But we are worried because it looks like the panel won’t be fair. The government only wants a panel that will agree with them.

It’s vital that the government aren’t allowed to use disabled people as a tickbox exercise in policy and cuts that could further decimate our community. Otherwise, we risk becoming complicit in our own destruction.