Mencap hosts speed-debating at party conferences

Monday 21 September 2009

As the political party conference season gets underway, disability charities have found a fresh way to take forward the social care debate

Leonard Cheshire Disability, Mencap and the MS Society have teamed up to host innovative debating sessions at this year's political party conferences.

Beginning with this week's Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth, the three charities are organising a 'speed-debating' event on adult social care.

The series of 10-minute sessions will encourage MPs and participants to answer the question, 'how would you change social care for working age disabled people?'

The question follows on from July's green paper on adult social care 'Shaping the Future of Care Together'. Mencap has voiced concerns that the green paper focuses heavily on social care for over 65s, ignoring the support needs of people with a learning disability at working age.

The fringe event will incorporate micro-blogging website Twitter. Questions from the event will be posted on Twitter in real time to encourage live online debate – giving those not able to attend the conferences a chance to contribute.

Shadow health minister Greg Mulholland will be getting involved this week's Liberal Democrat conference, and minister for social care Phil Hope will join the debate at the Labour conference in Brighton.

Mencap's head of campaigns and policy, David Congdon, said: "We hope our engaging and interactive event will inspire real debate on how we can repair our faltering social care system, so people with a disability get the support they need to live full, independent and active lives."

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Add your views to Mencap's response to the social care green paper