Deaf News: Labour MP criticises ‘disappointing’ response from Prime Minister to BSL question

Vicky Foxcroft, the shadow minister for disabled people, has today shared Boris Johnson’s “disappointing” written response to her question about the lack of an in-person British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter at the Government’s coronavirus briefings.

Foxcroft, who is a Labour MP for the Lewisham Deptford constituency, made headlines earlier this month when she used BSL to ask the Prime Minister why access wasn’t provided to the UK’s deaf community. His verbal response, made during Prime Minister’s Questions, was that he would “revert” to the MP as soon as he could.

In a letter shared by Foxcroft on Twitter, Johnson said that he “completely agree[s]| that vital public health information is accessible to all UK communities, adding that they have “worked with the BBC to establish British Sign Language interpretation” at the press conferences as a result.

The @Conservatives have failed at making #COVID19 essential communication inclusive.

I've asked @BorisJohnson several times why his press conferences continue to exclude disabled people who rely on British Sign Language.

His answers aren't good enough – this needs fixing.#PMQs pic.twitter.com/8EwmvswopB

— Vicky Foxcroft MP 💙 (@vickyfoxcroft) April 14, 2021

“The Cabinet Office has established provision for a British Sign Language interpreter based in a separate studio for use on our social media channels. This has also been made freely available to key broadcasters.

“The Cabinet Office also holds regular meetings with local government and representatives from the Disabled Charities Consortium to ensure that Covid-19 announcements are available in accessible formats,” he concluded.

In response to Johnson’s comments, Foxcroft writes that while she welcomes the government working with the BBC, she remains “deeply concerned” about the lack of BSL interpreters “present in the press briefing room”.

“Having spoken to countless disabled people, disabled people’s organisations and charities from across the country, a BSL interpreter imposed on the TV feed is insufficient. While some broadcasters add BSL interpretation, many do not.

“It is positive that the Cabinet Office makes this option freely available to key broadcasters, but the take-up is not enough.

“If the government were to provide an in-person interpreter – as is done during the devolved Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland administration press conferences – disabled people who require BSL would have easy access, regardless of what channel or part of the country they were watching from.

“Prime Minister, the message an in-person interpreter in the new £2.6 million press room would send to those disabled people who have been made to feel like afterthoughts by this government would be clear. Ensuring that this space is fully accessible, including to those who use wheelchairs, would further amplify this,” she said.

The comments about the new press room, set up in No 9, follow the Disability News Service revealing last month that the stage is inaccessible to wheelchair users.

Baroness Jane Campbell, a disabled crossbench peer, said the issue “sends out a clear message that, yet again, disability access is an afterthought.”

The full letter from the Prime Minister, as well as Foxcroft’s response, are both available to view on the MP’s website.

Photo: @vickyfoxcroft/Twitter.

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.