It has been horrendous to see deaf people who need BSL interpreting provided being mostly totally ignored during the past months by politicians and by the TUC at their on-line conference. Not only is this a flagrant disregard of the Equality Act but it is totally unacceptable in the 21st century. The TUC told us when we complained that they had considered having BSL for their on-line conference but as no-one had requested it they decided not to bother – so much for deaf union members and workers.
This week Vicky Foxcroft, the shadow minister for disabled people asked Boris Johnson why BSL had not been provided for his Coronavirus briefing. His reply was that he didn’t have time to source an interpreter and then to add insult to injury we are told by a reliable source that this was also the excuse Keir Starmer used to excuse the lack of BSL interpreting for his speech. This really is not good enough.
We have now written to Keir Starmer giving him advice on how he can source BSL on-line at short notice but basically we think his excuse was bullshit too.
Dear Mr. Starmer,
We were saddened to hear that the reason you were unable to provide a BSL interpreter last Tuesday for your important speech about the current pandemic was that like Boris Johnson you didn’t have time to source one.
Therefore we felt it may be useful for us to offer you some advice on where you can source a BSL interpreter often on a same day basis.
I’m sure interpreting Matters who I believe you still use for party conferences would have been able to find an interpreter at short notice if asked. Otherwise could we suggest NUBSLI https://nubsli.com/about-us/
Or xxxxxxxx a founding member of NUBSLI who has been doing same day on-line meetings with other interpreters and who often works for Jeremy Corbyn to provide BSL for his meetings on xxxxxxxxx
We hope this information will help you to provide BSL for your future speeches. I’m adding in Vicky as this information may be of use to her also.
Best Wishes,
Linda Burnip
Co-founder of Disabled People Against Cuts
Stratford-on-Avon CLP
This has been bothering me so much! There is always an interpreter for Nicola Sturgeon’s briefings and one for the Welsh Minister’s briefings. It shows us once again the callousness of the Tory Government. As for Keir Starmer, I am still waiting for evidence that he cares a jot about oppressed groups….