EHRC respond to Lord Shinkwin
Equality and Human Rights Commission
The Equality and Human Right Commission have responded to Lord Shinkwin's comments.
It is complete nonsense for Lord Shinkwin to make these false claims. Lord Shinkwin clearly finds it hard to accept the findings of the government’s appointments panel which were that he was not considered suitable for the role of Disability Commissioner. He was nevertheless offered a role as general commissioner. There was no political motivation in this decision. The Commission has worked very well with all political parties and Conservative Commissioners including Lord Holmes, the previous Disability Commissioner.
We are delivering an ambitious programme with rights for disabled people at the heart of everything we do.We have a proud record of standing up for disabled peoples’ rights and this will continue. We will soon be publishing our major inquiry into lack of adequate housing for disabled people and our inquiry into disability access to Premier League grounds.
The decision on the future of the Disability Commissioner role was taken after no successful candidate was appointed. As the statutory Disability Committee had come to an end it was decided to strengthen our disability work by mainstreaming it across the whole of the organisation. This gives a greater voice for disabled people as all Board members now focus on disability issues which will be central to all the Commission's work.