Deaf News: PM challenged by MP over ‘shameful’ lack of BSL interpreter

Posted on January 13, 2021 by


Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a committee room, with several green chairs behind him.

Boris Johnson has been grilled by MPs over his handling of the coronavirus crisis, including his failure to provide a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter for his press conferences.

The Prime Minister faced questions from select committee chairs as part of the Liaison Committee’s latest session, which took place on Wednesday afternoon.

As part of her questioning, Caroline Nokes MP, chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, said: “Can I ask, when the Home Secretary says that the current lockdown rules are clear, and the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police says it’s preposterous that anyone could be unaware of the rules, why are we still not doing a better job of explaining to vulnerable people what these rules are?”

In his response, Mr Johnson said: “I know I have been asked this a couple of times about sign language, in particular. There are obviously various logistical issues that need to be overcome, but I will take that away and see what we can do to increase sign language.

“What I can tell you, is that the campaigns – the normal TV broadcast, for instance – the campaigns that we have are provided in accessible formats and translations. We have multiple media channels that we use to help reach people,” he said.

The Prime Minister went on to add that the Government’s ‘stay at home’ poster had been produced with BSL interpretation, and that he was happy to write to the committee on this issue.

Following up on Mr Johnson’s reply, Ms Nokes said: “On the 12 October, you said there hadn’t been enough time to get a BSL interpreter for broadcast then. There wasn’t enough time, clearly, last week, and today, you’re still taking it away.

“I think it’s absolutely shameful that we haven’t done better on this when both the Welsh and Scottish governments have.”

Ms Nokes’ question follows a report by her committee on the “unequal impact” of COVID-19 on disabled people, which described the Government’s communications as “poor from the outset” of March’s lockdown.

“Accessibility should have been baked in from the start. Much of what is being asked for could be simply achieved, often at low cost, and bring considerate benefit to disabled people,” it reads.

Commenting on today’s developments, lawyer Chris Fry – who is working with Deaf campaigners on the judicial review on the issue – wrote on Twitter: “Did you see the sheet of paper passed to the PM when asked about the lack of BSL interpreters during [Caroline Nokes’] question, allowing him to read from a pre-drafted response?

“Do the right thing. Provide an interpreter – including for Parliament TV!”

It comes after the Parliament TV broadcast of the Liaison Committee session came without BSL interpretation or live subtitles.

Lynn Stewart-Taylor, founder of the #WhereIsTheInterpreter campaign, took to Twitter and said: “Disappointed with the Prime Minister. No sign language. No captions on [the] UK House of Commons.

“How can we, sign language citizens, find out what is happening? Enough is enough!”

Meanwhile, a document seen by The Limping Chicken have revealed that a request by lawyers to fast-track the judicial review – known as expedition – has been rejected by the Administrative Court.

In his reasons for the refusal, Mr Justice Swift said: “Although the claim raises an important issue, there is no reason that justifies giving it priority over other claims presently before the Court which also raise matters of importance.”

Mr Fry said that he was “optimistic” about the outcome of the case, although it is not yet known when the application for a judicial review will be considered.

Photo: ParliamentLive.TV.

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.

Update: In a Twitter video commenting on these developments, the Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD) said: “As strong supports of the #WhereIsTheInterpreter campaign, #TeamRAD welcome the news of the government being challenged by Caroline Nokes MP on its lack of provision of BSL interpreters for live coronavirus briefings.

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