Lord Ashley jacks it in

Forty years after setting up a cross-party group to raise the profile of disability issues in parliament, Lord Jack Ashley is stepping down as its chair. Sunil Peck marks his retirement

Although Lord Ashley of Stoke is sad to be stepping down, he hopes that he has done his bit to convince MPs and peers that disabled people are not objects of charity and are individuals with rights and aspirations worth fighting for.

His fellow disabled parliamentarians are quick to pay tribute to his achievements.

Lord Ashley set up the All Party Disablement Group, now the All Party Parliamentary Disability Group (APPDG), at a time when he was still coming to terms with the isolation he was experiencing as a result of losing his hearing. Indeed, he doubted his ability to pursue his career as a politician to the extent that he came close to packing it in.

“When I founded the group, our job was to make people take disability seriously. There has been an enormous change, but there is still a lot to be done.”

One of the group’s biggest roles was in the fight for anti-discrimination legislation and the establishment of a commission for disability rights.

According to Baroness Rosalie Wilkins, the influence of the APPDG is down to Lord Ashley’s charm and powers of persuasion, attributes that ensured the group had support among MPs and peers from day one.

“The fact that he ensured it had strong cross-party support was a clever political move. He used that strength to have a very influential voice in all the campaigns he has been involved with.”

Since the APPDG’s inception, the committee has convened regularly to debate legislation affecting disabled people.

But it has also acted as a forum giving disability groups the chance to speak to ministers face to face during meetings.

As Baroness Jane Campbell puts it: “Lord Ashley created a space whereby all disabled people felt important and listened to. What could be more important than that?”

Anne Begg MP thinks that Lord Ashley’s deafness has also played an important role in attracting support for the APPDG’s campaigns.

“He has spoken with huge authority when it comes to disability issues. Up till the point when he was in parliament, any discussion was always about someone else’s experience, not from their own.”

David Blunkett talks about Lord Ashley’s tenacity and zeal for campaigning which has characterised his work with the APPDG and in the chamber.

Lord Ashley says that he will carry on banging the drum for disability rights. He continues to raise issues in the House relevant to disabled people, and his independent living bill is still going through the Lords.

He is also at pains to reassure disabled people that the APPDG will carry on its work with someone new at the helm.

“The APPDG tries to give disabled people new rights over their lives and more independence. It is a big undertaking, but the APPDG will carry on campaigning on those important issues.”