Disability Representation in Politics

While one in five people in the UK is disabled, the proportion of disabled individuals among elected representatives is significantly lower. Despite broader discussions on inclusive politics, disability remains an often-overlooked aspect of the conversation. For many people working in this area, addressing such challenges isn’t just about fairness; it’s also about ensuring that disabled citizens have their voices heard in political decision-making.

A new book addressing these challenges was published last year, and a recent article in The Political Quarterly highlights its key themes. The book and article explore the structural barriers that disabled candidates and politicians face and provide actionable recommendations for change.

In this episode, we speak with the co-authors of both the book and the article:

• Prof Elizabeth Evans – Professor of Politics at the University of Southampton.
• Dr Stefanie Reher – Reader in Political Science at the University of Strathclyde.

Join us as we discuss the systemic obstacles, potential solutions, and the importance of disability-inclusive politics.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Stefanie Reher and Elizabeth Evans. "No Level Playing Field: Barriers to Disability Representation in Politics" The Political Quarterly
• Elizabeth Evans and Stefanie Reher. "Disability and Political Representation" Oxford University Press.

UCL’s Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy offers a uniquely stimulating environment for the study of all fields of politics, including international relations, political theory, human rights, public policy-making and administration. The Department is recognised for its world-class research and policy impact, ranking among the top departments in the UK on both the 2021 Research Excellence Framework and the latest Guardian rankings.