Newspaper Column – The Cornishman– 14/05/26

The disgraceful scapegoating of disabled people by far-right millionaire MPs has consequences. Disabled people have been abused and some have even received death threats. 

I was honoured to be joined this week by local constituent and disability rights campaigner, Keron Day, with whom I’ve been working, at a meeting with Motability CEOs, Nigel Fletcher and Andrew Miller, who came down from London to my Penzance office. We focused on the mandatory enforcement of the new “Drive Smart” technology system for all new Motability leaseholders and drivers under 30, and on the new mileage restrictions. 

Much of the disability community believe this goes way beyond what is reasonable. I view it as “Orwellian surveillance”. To use the Drive Smart App, a customer must have a smartphone, the Drive Smart App, always have Bluetooth on, keep their phone with them at all times, keep ‘low battery’ mode off and location services on, AT ALL TIMES. 

None of this is helped by nasty by far-right MPs, who regurgitate their usual lazy, dishonest, mocking and malicious claims about disabled people’s entitlement to assistance.  

I’m pleased the Chief Execs came to hear our concerns first hand. They promised to take on board as many of the criticisms of the scheme as they can within the constraints in which they operate, and will soon announce amendments. However, I’m surprised Motability rolled out this scheme before they’d considered the multiple risks and failures. The impact has been severe, has caused much anxiety for disabled people, and significant reputational damage to Motability, which will take much time and effort to repair.  

The primary credit for this should go to Keron, who has done a brilliant job promoting and analysing the weaknesses and failures of the system. Motability has promised to have a serious rethink, and to propose adjustments soon. I just hope it will be enough. 

• So, yet another PM faces growing calls to resign. The media fuelled hysteria grows by the hour. Is this simply a modern function of a failed political system which produces unrealistic expectation and a “pedestal syndrome”, where the public and media love to build people up so they can enjoy the sport of then knocking them down, or is it  just a coincidence; that we’ve had a succession of leaders who have been hounded from office after being granted ever shorter honeymoon periods? 

PM Starmer has also been criticised for numerous U-turns. From winter fuel to two-child benefit cap, to compulsory digital ID. However, people will also engage in the most shrill criticism towards those who are not prepared to change their minds. 

Whatever we may think about the character of the present PM, the pattern he follows should surely give any ambitious successor pause for thought.