Every political party campaigning right now is promising change, but one solicitor is actually making change happen in this election.
Disability rights activist and solicitor Chris Fry set up a campaign called Don’t Be Silenced: #NoBSLNoVote after the opening television debate between prime minister Rishi Sunak and opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer was put out with no BSL interpreter.
The campaign now aims to alter this policy and encourage broadcasters to provide sign language interpretations for all future election programmes. It goes further by petitioning parties to provide BSL interpreters for TV appearances, rallies and press conferences.
Fry, disability & equality rights solicitor at Inspire Legal Group, said: ‘It is crucial that the information which parties provide in set piece speeches to the nation are accessible to deaf people both in meeting equality obligations, but also in recognition of the fact that without such interpretation deaf people whose first language is BSL will be unable to access this critical information.’
There have already been successes: the BBC is providing BSL for the leaders debtate, Newsnight election special and on election night. Channel 4 is understood to be following suit.
The Liberal Democrats had an interpreter alongside leader Sir Ed Davey for their manifesto launch this week. Talks are ongoing with other parties.
Fry has a track record in such matters, having successfully taken the Cabinet Office to court in 2021 for not having BSL during Covid-19 broadcasts.
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