New disabilities minister is against long-term benefits for disabled people

David Cameron has announced that the new minister for disabled people is Justin Tomlinson, the Conservative MP for North Swindon.

Mr Tomlinson is a former national chairman of Conservative Future, the youth wing of the Conservative party and has been an MP since 2010.

Parliamentary records show that over the course of the previous Government, Mr Tomlinson voted for the bedroom tax and against paying higher benefits over longer periods for those unable to work due to illness or disability.

He also voted against giving cancer patients more than a year to recover by putting a year cap on contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance and against parents of disabled children getting at least two-thirds of the higher rate of universal credit.

Some may argue that as a backbench MP at the time, he had very little choice if he was to succeed in Parliament, but vote on the side of the Government.

However there has been consternation on Twitter over his appointment, with disability campaigner, Phil Friend, calling his voting record 'not very encouraging'.

While a blogger on the UK Carers forum said: "How can anyone who has any knowledge of disability allow Tomlinson to be 'Minister for Disabled People'? 'Against Disabled People' maybe.

“David Cameron has made a very callous appointment in Tomlinson, one that should make all disabled people and carers ask 'why did you give him this brief?'"

As minister for disabled people, Mr Tomlinson will be responsible for cross-government disability issues and strategy, Employment and Support Allowance, Work Capability Assessment and the Incapacity Benefit Reassessment Programme.

He will also be responsible for disability benefits (Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance), carers, appeals reform and fraud and error (including debt management).