Deaf News: BSL Bill could be introduced to Parliament after backbench MP reportedly supports campaign

A British Sign Language (BSL) Bill could soon be brought to Parliament, after an MP successful in Thursday’s Private Members’ Bill ballot has reportedly expressed their intent to introduce the proposal to the Commons.

The ballot, carried out by deputy speaker Dame Eleanor Laing MP, saw 20 backbenchers picked out of 459 MPs, who will now have the chance to change the law on a specific issue.

The British Deaf Association (BDA) has called on supporters to email their MPs ahead of the draw as part of their BSL Act Now campaign, with individuals encouraged to ask their representatives if they would be willing to introduce a BSL Bill if their name is read out by Ms Laing.

#BSLActNow Campaign Update

Here is a short video to tell you what happened yesterday regarding the result of the Private Members' Bill Ballot.

Let’s hope one of them will introduce #BSL Bill. #Deaf #SignLanguage #BritishSignLanguage pic.twitter.com/gvU0i7Jz50

— British Deaf Association (@BDA_Deaf) May 21, 2021

According to the campaign, more than 1,350 people wrote to 572 MPs (88%), with almost 10% saying ‘maybe’ or that they would definitely introduce the bill if selected.

David Buxton, from the BDA, told The Limping Chicken: “Out of the 20 MPs, we have one definite MP and three potentials and will be meeting one of them on Monday morning to see if she would be willing to introduce a BSL Bill.

“We’ve already contacted three MP offices today and are hopefully arranging for a another Zoom meeting to take place next week. We cannot confirm a definite answer until one of the MPs formally confirms in writing that s/he will introduce a BSL Bill.”

The MPs identities are currently unknown.

Although BSL was recognised by the UK Government in 2003, the language is yet to be granted legal status.

The BSL (Scotland) Act passed in 2015, but no law has been established which covers England, Wales or Northern Ireland – or the UK as a whole.

In a briefing note available on the BDA’s website, the proposed bill’s purpose would be to “make BSL an official language of the UK, establish a Board to promote and facilitate the use of BSL, and require public bodies to promote and facilitate the use of BSL”.

The board, known as the British Sign Language Council, would involve 12 members (the majority of whom should be Deaf BSL signers), selected by the relevant Secretary of State.

According to the document, their function would be about “promoting, protecting and facilitating the use of BSL”.

More information about the BSL Act Now campaign can be found on the BDA’s website.

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.