Conservatives leave chair empty

At the Citizen Jury Event being held by LDA England on 2nd April.

News | 30.03.15

The Empty Chair Debate - Do People with Learning Disabilities Matter to Politicians?

The threat of an empty chair persuaded the Prime Minister to attend the TV debates. Warm words from the Conservative Party about engaging with voters with learning disabilities have not been backed up with action. The only empty chair at LDA England’s Citizen Jury Event is that of the Conservative Party.

Timed to coincide with the seven-way debate on ITV, the Citizen Jury Event, in central London on Thursday 2nd April, will see a panel of people with learning disabilities and their families ask questions of:

The Conservative Party are the only party not to reply to the invitation issued by Baroness the Professor Sheila Hollins and Gary Bourlet of People First England.

This stands in stark contrast to the way in which the Conservatives have publicly represented their attitude towards people with learning disabilities, for instance:

There is still time for the Conservative Party to send a representative to the Citizen Jury Event.

Although there will not be an empty chair on the TV debate there may still be an empty chair as our Citizen Jury review and mark each party.

The scores will be made public after the event, helping the many millions of voters whose lives are touched by those with learning disabilities to decide who will best represent them.