A personal insight by me on the formal complaint I've made against the previous government which lead by the Conservatives until July 2024.
My life Challanges
Over the past 20 years, I have developed a family of projects and activities to improve understanding reduce stigma and change perceptions and judgments towards different hidden related difficulties.
There have been a lot of boundaries & challenges to access and to maintain my sense of purpose to acces employment, enterprise start-up, become inclusive and a community participant. I feel the barriers is partly caused by prejudice and misrepresentation and false accusations which can affect a person with hidden differences when being visible in Society.
Background
With the important decision-makers which can affect all of society and who supposed to represent our nation, I do expect a certain level of standards and knowledge with insight from a variety of perspectives and lived experiences.
The offensive langauge by the government
I have recently been hearing too often voices from key cabinet ministers from the previous conservative government with a lot of inaccurate and offensive stereotyping perceptions in the past 12 months and beyond against specific difficulties that are hidden, neurological and people facing specific mental health challenges including anxiety.
This is especially those who have been prevented from accessing employment and opportunities for businesses. This is related to the previous government's plans to reform the welfare system.
These comments are being made carelessly without being aware of the perspective of lived experiences or context related to the boundaries and challenges. Too many viewpoints undermine the challenges of a person with disabilities and difficulties faces and instead make derogatory, dehumanising insults and disrespect against disabilities and difficulties who are excluded from employment opportunities.
I felt the stigmatising typecasting went too far in April 2024 and without naming names or making any political judgement, there were certain members of the previous conservative cabinet of the UK Government who went too far making one-sided misperceptions and stereotype comments and remarks.
The danger of inaccurate allegations
Words and language from public figures can influence discrimination bullying abuse and hatred. I personally noticed because 15 years ago when similar languages were used I had to face constant harassment physical abuse and intimidation which forced me not to integrate with the rest of society for my own safety.
My Complaint action
Therefore I had no choice but to make a formal complaint against the previous government for the first time.
In my complaint materials, I have explained why the resamrs was made was insulting and disrespectful which is personal as I faced boundaries for decades into opportunities but I have never given up maintaining my sense of purpose. I felt all Members of Parliament have a responsibility not to make a one-sided perception and not to stigmatise people with specific difficulties but to make them feel demonised and ashamed for the wrong reasons.
DWP Disability Consultation
As part of my complaint, the government and particularly the Department for Work & Pensions (PWP) has failed to provide updates, comments or feedback from when I participated in a major consultation event last autumn in Birmingham arranged by the DWP.
Select the link below to my article
Consulation Support document
As part of my involvement in the consultation, I have shared my viewpoints with objective insights and solutions. Not just this but also I have published two documents which provide objective suggestions and solutions in response to the official proposal documents
You can view these documents and download them online here
My Expectation
As a citizen, I do expect better standards that mine another people's voice should be heard considered and not be ignored by offensive type casting remarks. Overall I felt betrayed I felt, insulted and undervalued.
From a team of leaders supposed to be highly educated & knowledgeable, I do expect a better level of standards on issues and challenges that affect specific members of society. Also, I do expect to consider insights from lived experiences through their perspective.
This incluldes not create one-sided misperception so I do expect a balanced judgment and response without prejudice or to prevent or cause negative stigma.
Conclusion
No person with neurological difficulties, hidden disabilities, anxiety and those facing mental health challenges should be stigmatised for false interpretation for being made to feel shamed because they are not understood. I expect much better standards from the leaders and representation of our nation.
Read my update and the response to my complaint
Notice to editors
Keith Mckenzie
Keith is an awareness campaigner, a creative designer (Graphic design and digital art) and a salsa dancing participant
With a background in Art & Design (including Graphic Design & Digital art) and a participant in music-related film documentaries, events & record label project King Of the Beats including filming and behind the scene preparations.
Keith was educated at Hereford College of the Arts, the University of Northampton, Birmingham City University and Google's Digital Garage. Since 2000, he has developed over twenty years in providing awareness projects, campaigns and activities with the Awareness brand Plus Value Awareness along with Differences Originals. Also are involved with salsa classes in the local community as an assistant. Also have participated in major dancing conventions at Birmingham's NEC for Birmingham Latinmotion and London's ManboCity.
In 2022, Keith become a featured community participant for Birmingham who became part of special projects and campaigns to promote a positive legacy beyond hosting the commonwealth games
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