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<p>As I stated on 17 May this year, the Government believes that political parties
have the prime responsibility for supporting their disabled candidates. There will
be ways that the Government can help, which is why I announced that the Government
Equalities Office will, with others, undertake a programme of work in this area. Within
12 months, we hope to have political parties offering and advertising support, as
well as solutions to help independent candidates. Disability stakeholders including
More United will be consulted as part of this work.</p><p> </p><p>The funding of up
to £250,000 that I announced is intended to provide support for disabled candidates
in the interim, while that programme of work is on-going. This fund will primarily
support the forthcoming English local elections in 2019, but similar arrangements
for any parliamentary by-elections that occur until May 2019, will be considered on
a case-by-case basis.</p><p> </p><p>My officials are liaising with the Cabinet Office,
which is responsible for electoral law, on any measures that may be required to ensure
grants from the fund are not considered to be part of a candidate’s election expenses.</p>
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