Deaf News: Pressure mounts on Government and Labour as #WhereIsTheInterpreter campaign progresses

Calls for UK political leaders to make their coronavirus statements accessible to the Deaf community have ramped up this week, with a fundraising campaign set to conclude on Friday and two new legal challenges launched by Deaf activists.

The developments are the latest progression in a movement requesting accessible public health information during the COVID-19 pandemic, which first began in March.

Labour faces legal claim over no British Sign Language (BSL) access for Keir Starmer’s press conference

A Deaf woman has filed a legal claim against the Labour Party after it failed to provide a BSL interpreter for the Labour leader’s statement on Tuesday.

Katie Rowley, from Leeds (known online as Katie J Redstar) told The Limping Chicken that she has frequently asked for an interpreter for meetings as a party member, but her unanswered requests have felt like she was “talking to a brick wall”.

She said: “I put it on my application when I joined in July and had no luck. It’s frustrating that they are taking people on but don’t make provisions.”

Sir Keir Starmer’s conference earlier this week saw him call for a two to three-week national lockdown to stop the spread of coronavirus, which has been described as a “circuit breaker” by the scientific advisory group SAGE.

However, an interpreter was not present in person, or on the BBC News Channel – with the broadcaster previously saying that they would provide BSL access for ministerial statements only.

The news came a day after Vicky Foxcroft MP, Shadow Minister for Disabled People, asked the Prime Minister if an interpreter would be available for his latest press conference on Monday evening.

Then there was this question from @vickyfoxcroft
earlier this afternoon around #WhereIsTheInterpreter, and whether a BSL interpreter would be provided for his #CovidBriefing this evening (h/t @FryLegal)

BSL version included in the next tweet.pic.twitter.com/QnwXknqnDc

— Liam O'Dell (@LiamODellUK) October 12, 2020

In a pre-action letter from Fry Law to the Labour Party on Wednesday, lawyer Chris Fry writes that Katie had hoped Sir Keir would have “[demonstrated] his commitment to the Deaf community by leading by example” and “embarrassing the Government” by providing BSL access.

“However, and much to Ms Rowley’s dismay, the Briefing had no BSL Interpreter. She could not follow any of the content.

“As a result of the inaccessibility of the briefing for our client, she was left feeling excluded from her own political party, she felt insignificant and irrelevant and isolated,” it reads.

Alongside requesting compensation for Katie, the document also calls for a written apology and that live BSL interpretation will be provided for all national briefings and addresses by the Labour Party.

In a statement to Disability News Service, a Labour spokesman said: “[Tuesday’s] press conference was organised with only a few hours’ notice. We did try to get a BSL interpreter.

“However, unfortunately this was not possible at short notice. The Labour Party is committed to introducing a BSL interpreter at future news events and we have already spoken to Vicky Foxcroft about taking this forward.”

Judicial review application launched over lack of interpreter for scientific briefings

A new request for a judicial review has been filed over #WhereIsTheInterpreter, with the UK Government now sued for failing to provide an interpreter for its press conferences with medical and scientific advisors.

Both a briefing by Professor Chris Whitty and Sir Patrick Vallance on 21 September, and another chaired by Professor Jonathan Van-Tam on Monday came without BSL access.

Disgusting @10DowningStreet that today's very important covid briefing does not have BSL interpreter either on @BBCOne @BBCNews why can't Deaf people have their access needs met by our government and media? So Deaf and disabled lives matter less? @FryLegal #WhereIsTheInterpreter pic.twitter.com/nlq9EsAD3f

— Tina Hodgkinson (@TinaWalksLondon) September 21, 2020

Speaking to The Limping Chicken, Chris said the application, also submitted on behalf of Katie, focusses more on “the medical and public health implications of COVID”, with Katie being pregnant and “anxious to keep her unborn sun safe”.

Katie added: “How can I look after not only myself my health problems but my unborn baby as well if I don’t have the information? It’s vital for everyone to have information that affects their health. I feel frightened, stressed which isn’t good in pregnancy.”

Chris continued to say that this “dovetails” with the proposed action from #WhereIsTheInterpreter Lynn Stewart-Taylor, which concerns the policy-based briefings from Government ministers.

“Between them they demonstrate a lack of regard for making information available in BSL online and by broadcasts,” he said.

Deaf campaigner to complete final stage of Deaf Walk fundraiser

Meanwhile, Lynn Stewart-Taylor is set to finish her journey towards Downing Street later today, concluding a 13-day march to raise awareness of the campaign.

The Deaf presenter first began the walk in Gloucestershire on 3 October.

Ahead of the event, Lynn told The Limping Chicken the three reasons for doing the challenge: “Firstly, to let the Government know that we are here. We are seen as a forgotten community, but we are here.

“Secondly, a second wave. I’m concerned – are we going to suffer again for the second time?

“Thirdly, we need money for the campaign to be stronger. The more money we have, the more we can fight and challenge the Government,” she said.

Over £6,500 has been raised for the cause at the time of writing, which is almost a third of their total target of £20,000.

Donations can be made on JustGiving, with more information about #WhereIsTheInterpreter available on the campaign’s Facebook page.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is a mildly deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He wears bilateral hearing aids and can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.