The briefing comes after Downing Street tried to axe the role of Minister of State for Disabled People entirely, but u-turned on the decision in the face of public backlash. The post was still downgraded to become a Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, a more junior rank in the Government.
Shona Goudie, policy and advocacy manager at The Food Foundation, said: “It is unacceptable that there are such high rates of food insecurity amongst disabled people and that they have had to suffer disproportionately during Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crises.
“There is no excuse for not giving disabled people the support they need. Policy makers need to take action now to reduce these inequalities and protect disabled people from unfair hardships.”
The research found:
- Nearly four in ten households with an adult limited a lot by disability experienced food insecurity in June 2023
- Households with a disabled person are substantially more likely to experience food insecurity than those without
- These disproportionate rates of food insecurity are in large part a result of income inequalities experienced by disabled people. Disabled people are less likely to be employed and on average are paid lower salaries
- Many disabled people are reliant in part, or entirely, on benefits which often do not provide sufficient levels of payment to cover essential costs
- Disabled people also often have higher expenditure requirements in other essential areas which squeezes the available food budget
MP John McDonnell, the Former shadow chancellor of the exchequer, added: "The soaring rates of food insecurity amongst disabled people in modern Britain is a disgrace. Disabled people in our society were disproportionately affected by Covid-19 and they have continued to suffer even more than most through the cost-of-living crisis.
“All the political parties must now come together to create a consensus to the end the poverty and indignity that too many disabled people have to endure. There is no excuse for allowing the status quo to continue."