Darren Johnson today launched his 14 point plan for disabled Londoners in the Borough of Merton. Darren and London Green Party disability speaker Dr Joseph Healey together with GLA Candidate Roy Vickery will be in Wimbledon High Street at 2.30 pm talking to Londoners about access problems.
Darren said, "Every Borough in London should examine the demands of the Disabled People’s Manifesto for London and ensure that they have regular consultation with disability groups to put forward plans on how they will improve access for disabled people in public buildings."
Darren continued, "The London Assembly should be setting an example when in comes to employing disabled people. Under Mayor Livingstone the number of disabled employees has fallen from 3% in 2000 to 1% in 2004. I will ensure that job vacancies are advertised through organizations like GLAD (Greater London Action on Disability).
Greens are demanding an end to travel discrimination against disabled people and want at least 50% accessibility by 2015 and full access by 2020 on all public transport in London.
Darren Johnson concluded, "At the drop of a hat, we can find billions to fight a war but this government is unable to promise disabled people seamless bus/rail and tube transfers in our capital city."
Jean Lambert London’s Green MEP has fought discrimination in the workplace in the European Parliament and is the Green Party speaker on work and pensions. She has been active in the European Parliament demanding that disabled people obtain the right to transfer their benefits across European borders.
14 point plan for Disabled Londoners
An end to travel discrimination against disabled and older people. Seamless bus/rail/tube transfers for the disabled, with at least 50 per cent accessibility by 2015 and full access by 2020
Steps to ensure all Greater London Authority policies meet the demands of the Disabled People’s Manifesto for London; there must be full, regular consultation with disability groups
A comprehensive advice and benefit service for older and vulnerable citizens. All Local Authorities should have a dedicated web page for disabled and vulnerable people showing access availability to public buildings and other information for disabled people
A GLA Strategy to improve services and service-access for disabled people – drawn up with the full involvement of London’s disability groups
Measures to ensure health services meet the needs of disabled people
Action in the European Parliament for better protection of employment and pension rights
A far-reaching European Disability Directive – addressing education, transport and access to services
Focused funding on providing decent local affordable sports facilities in every borough, including facilities for disabled so that sport can be available for all.
The ‘Freedom Pass’ system of free public transport for the disabled in London should be protected by the Mayor from demands from any boroughs to cut it on financial grounds. A proper London wide appeals system to be introduced, so that disabled people who are refused a ‘Freedom Pass’ by their borough can appeal to this body.
Disabled drivers with blue badges to be allowed to park in boroughs such as Westminster, where there is currently no provision for disabled vehicles who live outside the Borough.
Signers to be provided for meetings of the London Assembly, as they currently are in the Welsh Assembly.
A deaf cafe/cultural centre established for London along the lines of the ‘Cafe des Signes’ in Paris, where deaf visitors to the city can also gain tourist information, information on deaf friendly venues, deaf cultural events etc. In the interim press for a deaf evening once a week in the basement cafe at City Hall.
Improved access to police stations so that disabled people can properly report crimes and attacks against them. The issue of access to rooms within police stations was also raised, as sometimes disabled people can enter the station but then cannot access report rooms, toilets etc.
The proportion of disabled people who are unemployed in London is far higher than among the general population. An increase in the number of disabled recruits in the Metropolitan Police and improved training in disability issues in the police. An increase in the number of disabled people employed by the Greater London Authority.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
· Darren Johnson is 38 and was selected as the Green Party’s candidate for Mayor of London in May 2003. He was elected to the London Assembly in May 2000 where he is Leader of the Green Party Group. He was also elected to Lewisham Council in May 2002.
· The Mayoral election will be held on June 10th at the same time as the elections for the London Assembly and the European Parliament. At the last Assembly elections the Greens scored one of their best ever results in the Party’s history, securing 11.1% of the vote across London and winning three seats on the 25-member Assembly.
· Darren Johnson’s vision for a sustainable Green London can be found on his website www.johnsonformayor.org.uk
· Jean Lambert is London’s Green Member of the European Parliament and she is No 1 on the list for the London Green Party. Her website is www.jeanlambertmep.org.uk
· Green Party Assembly Members are Cllr. Darren Johnson AM, Deputy Mayor Jenny Jones AM and Noel Lynch AM