Labour MP to question why BSL interpreter wasn’t provided for Sunak speech on government ‘priorities’ (BSL)

A Labour MP has confirmed she will table a Parliamentary question asking the UK Government why it failed to provide a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter for the Prime Minister’s first speech of 2023.

Lilian Greenwood, MP for Nottingham South and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Deafness, tweeted on Wednesday she would quiz the government on the decision when MPs return to the Commons next week.

Earlier that afternoon, Rishi Sunak had set out five key priorities for the UK Government this year, in yet another televised speech which came without a BSL interpreter in-person or on-screen.

In a speech delivered in east London, the Conservative Party leader and former chancellor made five promises which he said would “deliver peace of mind” for members of the public.

These were to halve inflation, grow the economy, reduce debt, cut NHS waiting times and stop the number of small boats making their way across the English Channel.

Mr Sunak said: “Today, I want to make a simple commitment: this government will always reflect the people’s priorities. People don’t want politicians who promise the earth and then fail to deliver.

“They want government to focus less on politics and more on the things they care about.”

The remarks come after the Cabinet Office continues to contest a claim for compensation by 276 Deaf people in the Central London County Court, relating to nine coronavirus briefings which came without BSL access.

Interpretation was later provided by the BBC News Channel on the Cabinet Office’s behalf, in a live feed which also appeared on the government’s social media livestreams.

Mr Sunak concluded by saying: “I guarantee that your priorities will be my priorities.

“I will only promise what I can deliver, and I will deliver what I promise.”

However, in a series of tweets commenting on the lack of an interpreter next to Mr Sunak or on the BBC News channel, ‘Where Is The Interpreter’ campaign founder Lynn Stewart-Taylor said: “How can you [talk about] priorities and building a better future for the UK if you do not include your BSL citizens?

“Your priorities are my priorities. Really?”

Ms Greenwood added: “Less than a year since the BSL Act became law and the Government is still failing to make supposedly important communications accessible to thousands of deaf people.”

Less than a year since the BSL Act became law and the Government is still failing to make supposedly important communications accessible to thousands of deaf people. 🤦🏼‍♀️ https://t.co/hrWsSv0Ua6

— Lilian Greenwood (@LilianGreenwood) January 4, 2023

 

Introduced by the former Labour MP for West Lancashire, Rosie Cooper, in the form of a Private Members’ Bill, the BSL Act was backed by ex-minister for disabled people Chloe Smith and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

“The Government are committed to the Bill because we are committed to supporting all people with a disability, including deaf people, to lead fulfilled and independent lives. For deaf people, that must include the ability to communicate with others through British Sign Language or other forms of deaf communication,” Ms Smith said during the Bill’s committee stage.

It was one of the last pieces of legislation to receive Royal Assent by the late Queen in April last year, before coming into effect two months later.

In addition to legally recognising BSL as a language of Great Britain, the BSL Act requires the Work and Pensions Secretary to produce regular reports on the work government departments have done to “promote and facilitate” the use of BSL in its communications.

Ms Smith previously said these could include public announcements; the publication of government plans, consultations or strategies; or press conferences.

The Act also requires the Work and Pensions Secretary to produce guidance on BSL’s promotion and facilitation, which the DWP will create alongside a non-statutory advisory board.

In November, Action Deafness CEO Craig Crowley was announced as the co-chair of the group, with its members yet to be announced.

The Limping Chicken contacted Downing Street several times for comment regarding the lack of BSL interpretation, before its request was acknowledged at 6:41pm this evening.

A response was not received prior to this piece going live.

Photo: Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street/Flickr.

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.

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Update – 21:40: In a statement, a Government spokesperson did not comment on why BSL interpretation wasn’t provided, instead saying: “We are committed to supporting disabled people and we continue to work across Government to ensure that information and guidance is fully accessible.”

The Limping Chicken understands a BSL version will soon be made available on the 10 Downing Street YouTube channel, but it is not known when such a video will be released.