An estimated 16 million people in the UK live with disabilities—yet disabled voices remain vastly underrepresented in our political system.
If representation reflected the reality of our population, we would have around 136 disabled MPs. In 2021, only five MPs publicly identified as disabled. That’s a stark imbalance—and it matters.
Living with Disability in the UK
I’m one of the 16 million.
I live with multiple chronic conditions: Severe Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Endometriosis, Steatohepatitis, and De Quervain’s Syndrome in both hands. Most days, I’m bedridden. On a “good” day, I can use my motorised wheelchair to get around.
I’ve seen the challenges disabled people face in daily life. But one area that remains almost entirely inaccessible is political participation.
How can five MPs truly represent 16 million disabled people?
The Barriers to Becoming a Disabled MP
Running for political office in the UK is difficult for anyone—but for disabled people, it can be near impossible.
Let’s look at just a few of the barriers:
Physical demands: Campaigning requires travelling long distances, often without accessible transport. Disabled candidates are left paying for costly taxis or relying on family.
Communication issues: Blind and deaf candidates report inaccessible materials and lack of support, often having to use their limited campaign budgets to pay for interpreters or assistive tech.
Unrealistic expectations: The role of MP often requires 70+ hour weeks. As seen with Craig Mackinlay, a newly disabled MP who had to step down after losing limbs to sepsis, these expectations make politics unattainable for many.
Ableism in Politics
Perhaps the biggest barrier is ableism—the assumption that disabled people can’t cope with the pressures of political life.
This not only discourages disabled candidates from running, it also reinforces a Parliament that is structurally and culturally exclusive:
Late-night sessions alienate those with chronic illness or caring duties.
Shouting matches in the chamber disadvantage neurodivergent and chronically ill MPs.
Physical inaccessibility—from narrow corridors to steps without ramps—makes daily navigation difficult.
These issues won’t change until disabled people are in the room and in power.
Why Disabled Representation Matters
Representation isn’t just symbolic—it shapes policy.
In the last 14 years, disabled people have faced:
Cuts to social care
Dismantled welfare systems
Negative media portrayals
And during Covid, the lives of disabled people were sacrificed in policy decisions. Would more disabled MPs have led to better protections? Possibly.
If we are not at the table, we’re on the menu
The Disgrace of Funding Cuts
To make things worse, the government scrapped the Access to Elected Office Fund in England, which had helped cover the extra costs disabled candidates face—like personal assistants and accessible transport.
MP Marsha de Cordova, who is registered blind, has spoken out about the many ways Parliament is simply not designed for disabled people: tight corridors, uneven floors, and steps without ramps.
Without financial and structural support, talented disabled people are excluded before they even begin.
What Needs to Change?
With a General Election approaching, we must demand answers.
Why is Parliament still inaccessible?
Why did the government scrap the support fund?
What will the next government do to fix this?
We urgently need more disabled MPs. And we need a political system that doesn’t just allow us in—but welcomes us.
Final Thoughts
Disabled people make up a huge part of society, yet we remain underrepresented and unheard. Real change will only come when our voices are not only included—but lead.
Let’s amplify disabled voices. Let’s fight for a truly inclusive Parliament.
Thank you for reading, and please share this post to raise awareness.
🫶 Stay strong and keep advocating,
Alisha
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