The UK’s new Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, held his first press conference from Downing Street on Saturday – except no in-person British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter was provided.
While a sign language interpreter was overlaid onto social media livestreams of the event on Downing Street’s official channels, Deaf campaigners and charities have called for the provision to be offered in-person – a move which would also see coverage from broadcasters made accessible by default.
Prior to being voted out in a historic defeat in this week’s general election, Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government had committed to providing an interpreter ‘in situ’ for its press conferences “from spring 2024” as part of its Disability Action Plan.
However, the government failed to meet its own deadline for the access provision, as no interpretation was offered for Sunak’s speech announcing the election on 22 May, nor for a statement on strikes on Houthi targets given on 31 May – the last day of spring.
It is not known whether the Starmer’s Labour government will now renew this commitment.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday afternoon, the prime minister said: “As the dust settles on Thursday’s result, what is becoming clear for all to see is the mood of the nation – of the country – what is expected of us, and the mandate that we have to deliver change.”
The accessibility issue comes a day after Starmer delivered his first speech as prime minister, with the Labour leader failing to take up an offer of an interpreter by the Royal National Institute for Deaf people (RNID) to make the speech accessible to Deaf signers.
BSL versions of the speeches from Starmer and Sunak were only made available several hours after they were delivered to the rest of the public.
Both No 10 and the Cabinet Office have been approached for comment.
Images: 10 Downing Street/YouTube.
Liam O'Dell
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