The Conservatives today proved once again how unimportant the post of minister for disabled people is by removing yet another incumbent before they have been in post long enough to achieve anything.
Following the high profile resignation of Priti Patel as Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt has now been moved into her post after less than 16 months as a DWP minister.
Few claimants will mourn the passing of Mordaunt, who most will feel did nothing to fight their corner. But the fact that the government sees no need to allow any degree of continuity in the post demonstrates that the rights of disabled people are not even on their radar.
The new minister for disabled people, Sarah Newton, thus becomes the seventh occupant of the post in as many years.
Previous ministers are:
- 12 May 2010 – 4 September 2012 Maria Miller
- 4 September 2012 – 7 October 2013 Esther McVey
- 7 October 2013 – 15 July 2014 Mike Penning
- 15 July 2014 – 8 May 2015 Mark Harper
- 8 May 2015 – 15 July 2016 Justin Tomlinson
- 14 July 2016 – 9 November 2017 Penny Mordaunt
Whether Sarah Newton will last any longer than her predecessors remains to be seen.
