there is more to being disabled than being on benefits

Hi all,

A few weeks ago I was in manchester at the labour party conference. I had hoped to take part in the equality debate but was not called to speak so just for you here is what I was going to say

> Good morning conference, I was the PPC in Orkney and Shetland at the last
> election. I am proud to be part of the new generation and look forward to
> working with Ed Milliband to return a Labour Government to power.
>
> I would like to thank Harriet Harman for all of her efforts in passing the
> Equality Act and Jonathan Shaw for all of his good work as disability
> minister.
>
>
>
> At this time because of the economic climate there is a considerable amount
> of talk about money. I work with disabled people as a parliamentary officer
> for a charity and many of them are concerned about the potential loss off
> benefits. I know this is a debate about equality but many people I talk to
> think that all politicians care abouts when it comes to disabled people is
> taking things from them or making it harder for them to receive what they
> are entitled to
>
> Conference I know that this is not the case but politicians need to practise what they preach tell and borrow a phrase its about getting off benefits and
> into work.
>
>
>
> What is that work. It is about supporting the removal of barriers to
> disabled people in society and not just talking about money For example In Scotland. The Criminal Justice and Licensing bill has just passed in that bill was an amendment thatrequires license applicants to state how their premises meets the needs ofdisabled people so that for the first time they have to consider access
> right from the start. Conference that was a campaign I started which George
> Foulkes led through the Scottish Parliament this small change will make a
> huge difference to so many people allow disabled people and their friends to
> enjoy a barrier free social life. If we help remove the barriers then we can be a more equal society. So I want to encourage Ed and his team to show what they are doing to help disabled people. I would also like a page in the party manifesto for disability related policys. this is because being disabled affects your whole life in a way that the other equality strands do not. for example your housing needs your job prospects I could go on so I feel a single paragraph will not surphise
>

> In conclusion to build an equal society we must show that we are there to
> help and not hinder, Yvette Cooper mentioned a crusade to protect the
> vulnerable well Yvette I will be there at the front supporting you as long
> as your pushing
>
>
>

poetry in motion

The publication today of the full partnership agreement reminded me of the crooner bobby vee and his song poetry in motion. there have been a few members of both parties who to quote the song about their own manifesto think that they "love every movement their is nothing they would change, it doesn't need improving its much too nice to re arrange" Nick and David have a hard task a head of them and it could cause the coalition to have tears on its pillow

if the shoe fits

The new Home Secretary Theresa May is famous for her shoes. Today I am also thinking about shoes. that is because i have just bought a new pair. But this pair is different. they actually fit my own feet. I wear splints to help me walk. but they are away being fixed at the moment. I have shoes which fit my splint, but not my feet. so on sunday I bought my first pair of shoes, i will send mum a picture to fit in my baby book.

so far so good but time will tell if the shoes fit

It could all end in tears

The past week has been momentous in British Politics with the first coalition government in many years and some comentators are saying it could all end in tears. In just a few short weeks the conservatives and Liberal democrats have gone from just " I agree with nick" to " I am time sharing with nick" as william Haugue and Nick Clegg are going to share the use of Chevening the country retreat of the Foreign Secretary with 115 rooms, they could stay there at the same time and never see each other- See full story here http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1279232/Nick-Clegg-muscles-William-Hagues-Chevening-grace-favour-Kent-pad.html

However something else the could end in tears has done so. This morning was a bright sunny day in edinburgh so I got up and put on a nice white shirt for work this morning and went of out of the door with my lunch in hand, full of the joys of spring

Lunchtime came and I went to the kitchen and went over to the sink to open my lunch. My friends my lunch was tomato soup. I pulled open the can with such force that the soup went onto my shirt at the top of my shoulder and into the chest pocket and covered my glasses.

So how will a coalition not end in tears start by banning tomato soup and white shirts

the blog is back

Ladies and Gentleman I had taken a break from blogging but the blog is back

speech on independent living

Conference I come before you as two things can you guess what they are? The most obvious thing is that I am part of that select group of people in Scotland 1 in 5 of the population, who have a disability. Secondly I am the PPC for Orkney and Shetland. I do not know which of these is more of a challenge, but they are both one I intend to conquer.

The labour party has done so much for disabled people through out the UK to make our lives easier and for that I am grateful

What I want to talk to you about is independence, not political independence but social independence

Conference what do you think of when you think of a disabled person being independent, is that being able to cook and clean for themselves well conference there is so much more to being independent than that

Independent living is being able to do what you want when you want to do it- without having to rely on others. Just like all of you who are not disabled.

An example of this is the barred campaign! This is a campaign, which seeks to improve the social lives of disabled people by improving the access to pubs by improving the access information about them. Yes conference disabled people like to go for a pint too-, as those of you who know me will testify

I am asking the party to put down on paper is recognition of the importance of independent living and also that it means more than being able to do the basics. But to allow disabled to take their place in society.

Like the SNP I want full independence but unlike them the purpose of my independence is not to break up society or a country but to be able to take my place in society and contribute just like anyone else.

Speech to Partnership in Politics Conference Swansea November 6th 2009

Find below my speech delivered today in Swansea

Good Morning it’s a delight for me to be here today, and to be able to share my knowledge and experience with you and I hope to learn things from you.

I think it is very appropriate that the conference is being held here in the Liberty Stadium as I hope what I will say will liberate you to feel that you can bring about change no matter who you are or if you have a disability

I thought that everyone in Wales loves Rugby so this speech was going to be about how Try you best and Converting your campaigning chances but everyone I have spoken to more of a football fan so that plan was a bit of an own goal!

David Lloyd George said you can’t cross a chasm in 2 small leaps and I hope that what I will say today will help you take the first leap

Who am I and what do I know about campaigning ?I am leading the barred campaign in Scotland. The barred campaign is seeking to improve the information available to disabled pub goers in Scotland.

Like all good ideas the campaign started in the pub although we did not go there to start the campaign. It was a typical Friday night and like many people I had gone to the pub to meet friends and unwind over a few drinks.

The evening started off well I got into the pub through the level access entrance and watched my favorite darts player Raymond Van Barneveld win a match on TV and I was settled in for the evening with a pint in hand What could go wrong?

I then needed the toilet and so I asked the bar staff where the disabled toilet was and was told sorry we don’t have one. I thought what am I supposed to do now as I thought they did just by the fact that I could get in to the pub.

I had to leave my friends and go elsewhere and find a toilet then rejoin them.

This has happened to me before but I hope my campaign will stop it happening in the future. I am fed up of it happening to me, James Bond likes his Martinis shaken but not stirred. The experience that night shook and stirred the campaigning beast within me and I decided to campaign for change.

I contacted my Member of the Scottish Parliament to ask them to find out why the bar didn’t have a disabled toilet – I thought it would be more effective than coming from me a punter

Then a local councilor asked Edinburgh City Council To find out the number of pubs in the city with disabled toilets and the ease of access to the toilets. The results were to be published so that disabled people would know where the pubs were and not have to go through a similar experience. The council agreed to this request.

Not content with stopping there I decided to chance my arm and see if I could go nation wide with my campaign and I am now working for Capability Scotland to see if my campaign can have a national impact after they agreed to support my campaign and my quest for equality. I am now working full time for them as their Parliamentary and Policy Officer which allows me to work on a wide range of issues from welfare reform to access to justice

How can you Campaign for change?

Just like the Jackson 5 song campaigning can be as easy as ABC- make sure you pay attention, as I will be testing you later!

The most important part of any campaign is the planning the more work you do here the less work later.

Find out if there have been any similar campaigns not to copy them but to learn from them.

Firstly make sure you know what you and your team are campaigning for. If everyone in the team is pulling in the same direction it makes life so much easier.

Keep your campaign simple. Keep it down to 3 or 4 points this makes it easier for you to remember what your are campaigning for and also if you do any press releases or interview it keeps it short it snappy.

Once you have decided these you have to decide where you want the campaign to go do you want to campaign for change in your school, street or like me your country

Now implement your campaign. Many people think the new way to campaign is to copy president Obama but I would disagree. Although he did use the Internet to great effect the bulk of his campaigning was done the old fashioned way through door knocking and meetings,

How you market your campaign depends on the situation. For example don’t use the Internet if your target audience don’t use the Internet. That may sound simple but you would be amazed at how many people think that just because they have run one successful campaign in a certain way that way will always work.

Talk to people about your campaign and do a piece in your school paper or start a petition. If you get lots of interest then who ever you are trying to get to implement your campaign will have to take notice.

Arguably the greatest thing the Scottish parliament has to campaign for change is the Petitions committee. Which allows ordinary people to take their concerns to the people that represent them I know that the national assembly for Wales has one too and I look forward to hearing what Mike German has to say later on. All I would say is that its there to help you so why not give it a go!

So there are some tips about how to run a successful campaign. Here are some words of wisdom from a seasoned campaigner.

You may not achieve what you set out to achieve but don’t lose heart. Your campaign may have raised an issue, which someone else will take forward.

Campaigning is hard work But as John F Kennedy said we don’t do things because they are easy but because they hard, I am standing fir the UK parliament for the labour party in Orkney and Shetland which is very hard because its one of the safest Liberal Democrats seats in the country but I believe I can do it

If you’re campaigning for change believe in it. Franklyn D Roosevelt said if you believe in something you are half way there. The passion, which comes from you, does a lot for your campaign people may not remember all you say but they will remember how you said it.

Belief in myself is something I have a huge amount of. In September 2008 I had found my first job. It was in Canary wharf at Lehman Brothers. I never started that job.

But I had the belief I could find a job and I have ended up speaking to you today and working in a job I love.

Most of all have fun! You could meet all sorts of people and learn new things

So how do you campaign for change? You plan you organise , you impliment and you believe!

At the start of my speech I quoted David Lloyd George may seem like you are in a chasm David Lloyd George said you cant cross a cassum in two small leaps. With what I have shared with you today are you ready to take the jump?