West London Disability Charity Forced to Cancel Election Hustings Due to Low Party Participation
A prominent West London disability charity has been compelled to cancel its scheduled local election hustings event after only a single political party confirmed its attendance. Action on Disability (AoD), an organization founded in Hammersmith and Fulham in 1979 that provides essential services and support to individuals with disabilities, had planned to host the event on Monday, April 20.
Multiple Parties Fail to Confirm Attendance Despite Invitations
The charity extended formal invitations to all major political parties, including the Conservative, Green, Labour, Liberal Democrat, and Reform parties. However, due to a combination of candidate unavailability and internal communication failures, only the Conservative Party committed to participating. This lack of broader engagement forced AoD to cancel the hustings, as it would not facilitate a balanced and meaningful debate for the community.
Labour and the Liberal Democrats have expressed willingness to participate in a rescheduled event. Labour cited scheduling conflicts, noting that neither its Leader nor Deputy Leader could attend the proposed dates. Reform UK was contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication, though it is understood the party did reply to AoD to decline participation.
Charity Leadership Expresses Deep Disappointment
David Buxton OBE, Chief Executive of Action on Disability, emphasized that repeated efforts were made to invite all major parties through follow-up emails and phone calls. In a statement, Mr. Buxton highlighted the disappointment, stating that the absence of multiple parties would not allow for a fair debate. He noted that previous election events had seen strong engagement from all parties, providing crucial opportunities for deaf and disabled residents to interact directly with candidates.
Mr. Buxton also detailed the extensive preparations made to ensure the event was fully accessible and inclusive. These arrangements included booking British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters, speech-to-text support, and securing an appropriate venue. He encouraged disabled residents to contact the Hammersmith and Fulham Coalition Against Cuts (HAFCAC), which has received written responses from local parties, to better understand each group's stance on disability issues.
Political Parties Respond with Apologies and Commitments
James Windsor-Clive, Chair of the Conservative Disability Group and a candidate for Walham Green, criticized other parties for not attending, stating that open debate is essential for democracy. He asserted that the Conservatives have a comprehensive plan for Hammersmith and Fulham, focusing on making services genuinely accessible.
A Hammersmith and Fulham Labour spokesperson reaffirmed the party's commitment to disabled people, attributing their absence to scheduling issues and expressing readiness to participate in a rescheduled event. The Liberal Democrats apologized for internal communication errors that prevented candidates from receiving invitations and pledged to review their systems, while also committing to protecting free home care provisions.
The Green Party acknowledged a communication error that led to their non-response and outlined their policies, including increasing disability benefits, reforming eligibility tests, and investing in accessible infrastructure. They emphasized their dedication to systemic change to ensure dignity and independence for disabled people.
Context of Local Elections and Council Commitments
The local elections, scheduled for May 7, will see all 50 seats on Hammersmith and Fulham Council contested. The council is currently noted for being the only local authority in the country not charging for home care, with a strong commitment to promoting Independent Living and disability equality. AoD stressed the importance of any new administration continuing these commitments to ensure deaf and disabled residents can actively participate in shaping local services and decisions.
