Revealed: UK Government provided own BSL interpreter for vaccine briefing

Downing Street has confirmed that it provided an online British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter for its press conference on the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine, in a first for the UK Government.

Sign language interpretation of ministerial briefings is currently offered by the BBC on behalf of Number 10, with the interpreter visible on the BBC News Channel and government social media accounts.

However, the broadcaster has confirmed to The Limping Chicken that it does not provide BSL access for updates from scientific and medical experts.

Despite the arrangement, last Tuesday’s conference still came with sign language interpretation on the Government social media channels – a video feed which is normally provided by the BBC.

Responding to a request for comment, a BBC spokesperson told The Limping Chicken their policy on the BSL interpretation of coronavirus briefings has not changed, with scientific briefings still not being interpreted by them.

The interpreter was instead provided by the Government, with a Number 10 spokesperson confirming to this website that the Cabinet Office had paid for the interpreting service.

When asked if this would be a one-off occurrence or a service provided for future briefings as well, they added: “We endeavour to use BSL interpreters in all of our COVID comms and it is something we are working towards.”

Downing Street’s response comes in the same week that lawyers are due to issue court proceedings against the Government for not providing their own BSL interpreters for coronavirus briefings.

The move is the latest development in the #WhereIsTheInterpreter campaign – a movement founded by Deaf presenter Lynn Stewart-Taylor who has been calling for the UK Government to provide an interpreter since March.

An article on Fry Law’s website reads: “Our team, led by Chris Fry and Catherine Casserley at Cloisters Chambers intends to issue an application for Judicial Review at the Administrative Court in Leeds [this week], challenging the failure to comply with the [Public Sector Equality Duty] and /or failure to make reasonable adjustments in the exercise of a public function/provision of a service.

“The purpose of the proceedings would be to obtain a declaration that the Government’s actions are unlawful and will include an Order compelling the Government to make its communications accessible by the provision of BSL English Interpreters at all live national Government addresses.”

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Analysis by Liam O’Dell

It may not seem like much, but the above is pretty significant. For the first time since coronavirus briefings started, the UK Government has finally – in some way, shape or form – provided a British Sign Language interpreter for one of its press conferences, without relying on the BBC to do that for them.

Although it’s short, the latest stance from Number 10 also indicates a noticeable shift in position. Previously, the Government’s many blanket statements to disability organisations have seemingly been that the BBC’s provision was sufficient – Peterborough MP Paul Bristow made a point similar to this in an interview with the Cambridgeshire Deaf Association in August.

Now, however, it looks like the Government has conceded they still need to address the issue. By confirming that they are “working towards” making all of their COVID-19 communications accessible, they have in turn admitted that the current position isn’t good enough. We don’t know whether this week’s legal proceedings have played a part in that, either.

Downing Street also didn’t say if this was a one-off, or something which will be implemented for future data briefings. Yet, given that they’ve now confirmed they’re working towards more accessible communications, it appears as though maintaining the status quo is no longer feasible.

It may well be wishful thinking, but it looks like the tides are finally turning in Government – however slow that may be.

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Photo: Pippa Fowles/No. 10 Downing Street.

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.