Examining Accessibility of Debating Chambers and Committee for Disabled Members of the UK House of Commons

• In Event: Paths to Political Representation of People with Disabilities

Abstract

Building on the parliamentary fellowship project conducted in collaboration with the Centre of Excellence for Procedural Practice of the House of Commons this paper offers a systematic analysis of existing work spaces in the UK House of Commons and their accessibility for disabled parliamentarians. It specifically focuses on most visible and the least adaptable parliamentary work spaces, namely the debating Chambers, and on more adaptable and arguably more effective spaces such as Committees. This analysis does beyond elements of physical infrastructure and engages with non-written rules reflected in political culture, courtesies and etiquette of the House, as well as written, yet flexible procedural norms.
This study is based on semi-structured interviews with members of the House staff, Members of Parliament and their staff, as well as parliamentary debates and documents such as Standing Orders. The research follows in the footsteps of Emma Crewe (2005; 2015; 2021) and Ilana Gershon (2008; 2011) treating legislatures – in this case, the UK Parliament – and their institutional contexts as sites of contestation (Gershon 2011) that are deeply ritualised and imbued with hierarchy, complex relationships and meanings (Crewe 2021).
The research concludes by reflecting on existing good practices within the House and offering a series of recommendations on the areas for improvement.

Author

• Ekaterina Kolpinskaya, University of Exeter