Minister for Disabled People yet to be confirmed despite reports MP Claire Cutinho is in role

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has not announced the new Minister for Disabled People, despite several reports that East Surrey MP Claire Cutinho has been appointed to the position.

It comes more than three weeks since Liz Truss became prime minister and supporter Chloe Smith was promoted to Work and Pensions Secretary.

She had previously served as the Minister for Disabled People herself under Ms Truss’ predecessor, Boris Johnson.

James Taylor, executive director of campaigns, communications and strategy at the disability charity Scope, told The Limping Chicken’s Liam O’Dell he had met with Ms Cutinho “in [her] capacity” as Minister for Disabled People last week.

Elsewhere, Disability News Service editor John Pring reported the official app for the Conservative Party Conference – which begins on Sunday – lists Ms Coutinho in the role.

This is despite Ms Coutinho’s Twitter and the DWP’s website only describing her as a “Parliamentary Under Secretary of State” in the government department.

The Limping Chicken understands ministerial roles in at the DWP are yet to be confirmed.

The DWP was approached for a statement but no on-the-record comment was given.

Meanwhile, Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst was finally announced as the education minister with responsibility for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) on Tuesday.

The Minister for Schools and Childhood will serve under Kit Malthouse MP, who was made Education Secretary on 6 September.

Photo: UK Parliament.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.