NEW Prime Minister Keir Starmer has come under fire from campaigners for so far failing to appoint a minister for disabled people.

Under the conservatives, the position changed hands numerous times and was at one point removed from government altogether.

Disability campaigners have flagged concerns that history may repeat itself once again. 

Previous shadow minister for disability Vicky Foxcroft spent nearly four years working to develop relationships between her party and the disabled movement. 

But instead of taking up the position she has been made Junior Lord of the Treasury.

Disability Rights UK, a leading charity, has written to the Prime Minister stressing the urgent necessity of filling the post, which remains vacant a week after his government took power.

It underlined that many disabled people experience considerable inequality and injustice, living in poverty due to inadequate benefits and incomes, and experiencing barriers in accessing the NHS, housing and transport. 

“It is absolutely essential that the Labour government tackles these inequalities and develops a transformational plan for change,” it said.

DR UK policy and campaigns officer Dan White said: “While we appreciate that a new government needs to take its time and get its feet under the table, it seems poor that a minister with responsibility for over 16 million people should be left to last.

“This is not about us being impatient, this is about us being recognised and valued.

“This position must, to placate and reassure people, be filled by the weekend, or trust will be damaged between community and government before the dust of political change has settled.”