Phillip Hammond Blames Disabled People Working For Fall In Productivity

Disability Action is shocked at Philip Hammond's suggestion that more disabled people finding jobs is partly responsible for the UK’s falling productivity.

Responding to a question from the Treasury Select Committee about a 0.1 per cent fall in UK productivity, the Chancellor said:

“It is almost certainly the case that by increasing participation in the workforce, including far higher levels of participation by marginal groups and very high levels of engagement in the workforce, for example of disabled people – something we should be extremely proud of – may have had an impact on overall productivity measurements.”

This is an outrageous misrepresentation of the contribution that disabled employees make and reinforces the negative stereotypes that continue to make it difficult for disabled job-seekers to access paid employment.

Mr Hammond is speaking in opposition to his own party’s aspirations to get more disabled people into work and his comments will shock and frustrate the disabled employees who are already working hard to contribute to our economy. This is another of the ill-judged comments and measures which stigmatise and undervalue disabled people as equal citizens.

Disability Action calls for Phillip Hammond to retract his statement.


Kevin Doherty
Chief Executive, Disability Actio