Mims Davies has been given the title (Image: Getty)

       Rishi Sunak has appointed a new Disability Minister after the "crucial" role was left vacant for seven days - a move which disability charities branded as "appalling".

       Mims Davies - the former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression - has been given the title.

       Her appointment comes after sources claimed this morning that the role was being scrapped completely, which infuriated charity campaigners who feared for the future of the UK's 16 million disabled people.

       Speaking to the Express, Ms Davies said: “It is an honour to take on this important role for disabled people, building on the work I've been doing in government to make sure no one is left behind or feels overlooked. It’s a passion and commitment I have and drives my public service.

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       “It’s something very close to my heart and it’s made me reflect on how, as someone who grew up with caring responsibilities, like many it took a while to realise we were doing this – as it’s just what you do when things happen. I do know how precious every life is and the very real struggles disabled people and their families go through.”

       READ MORE: Not all disabilities are visible and I know first-hand

       Downing Street has defended Rishi Sunak's controversial decision (Image: Getty)

       Ms Davies spoke about her dad’s brain injury, which she said, “came out of the blue” and changed her and her family’s lives “forever”.

       Up until this evening, it was understood that Ms Davies would be adding the disability role to her current social mobility portfolio, sparking concerns that her heavy workload would mean that disabled people would be an "afterthought".

       Disability equality charity Scope, among others, criticised the Government’s for “downgrading” the role this afternoon before the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirmed to the Express that Ms Davies' only title would be Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work tonight.

       James Taylor, the charity’s Director of Strategy, said: “Disabled people have been waiting a week for an announcement on who will have responsibility for disability in government. And now we're seeing a downgrading of the role.

       “We'd urge the government to reinstate the dedicated Minister of State position, to reflect the need for the UK's 16 million disabled people to be treated as a priority. We need full-time leadership of disability strategy in government, to make sure policy doesn’t leave disabled people disadvantaged."

       The move which has left the UK’s 16 million disabled people feeling “inadequate” (Image: Getty)

       Vicky Foxcroft, Labour's shadow disabilities minister, said the move was “shocking” before Ms Davies’ appointment was announced at 4 pm.

       She said: “After 13 years of Tory austerity, pandemic and cost-of-living crisis, disabled people feel their voices aren't being heard and represented in Government. This confirms it.”

       Tom Pursglove held the role of Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work until last week, when he was moved to the Home Office following Robert Jenrick's resignation over the Safety of Rwanda bill.

       After Jenrick's departure, his immigration minister brief was split between Pursglove - taking on legal migration - and Michael Tomlinson - the newly minted minister for illegal migration.

       The position was left vacant for seven days – the longest period without a disability minister in post for 30 years.

       The Prime Minister's official spokesman said before the DWP announced the news this afternoon: “It's not right. We will have a minister for disabled people who will lead on that important work."

       Pressed on the lack of a minister focusing solely on people with disabilities, he said: “What you will continue to see is a government showing strong support for disabled people and for disabled issues.”

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       A petition, which has since amassed nearly 500 signatures in less than 24 hours, has since been created by a disabled and disgruntled Briton calling for the Government to ‘Reinstate the Disability Minister’s role’.

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       Simon Sansome wrote on Change.org: “I am one of millions of people in the UK who feel unrepresented by our Government today.

       “The absence of a dedicated Disability Minister is a glaring omission, leaving us without an essential advocate within Government. This role is not just symbolic; it has practical implications for policy-making and ensuring that our needs are considered in all aspects of governance.”

       The move comes during the UK’s disability history month, which runs from November 16 until December 16.

       Mims Davies

       It is an honour to take on this important role for disabled people, building on the work I've been doing in government to make sure no one is left behind or feels overlooked. It’s a passion and commitment I have and drives my public service.

       It’s something very close to my heart and it’s made me reflect on how, as someone who grew up with caring responsibilities, like many it took a while to realise we were doing this – as it’s just what you do when things happen. I do know how precious every life is and the very real struggles disabled people and their families go through.

       Our dad's brain injury came out of the blue, instantly changing his life and the lives of my family forever and leaving an emotional and financial legacy.

       They were torrid and difficult times. Often emotional. Yet always supportive and shaped the future I strived for to support him and my mum.

       But support doesn't just come from inside the family. You often have to look elsewhere and recognise the value of getting support and be determined and ready to ask for the help you need.

       This government will always rightly provide a safety net for those with disabilities, carers, and the most vulnerable. And as Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work at the DWP, I'm committed to making sure that the department always steps up to protect disabled people. We know that disabled people have particularly struggled with the cost of living in recent years, which is why we are delivering a cost-of-living package worth ￡104bn including millions of disability cost-of-living payments and boosting benefits by 6.7 per cent.

       And I am determined to give everyone a chance at realising their potential. My mission will be to help tear down barriers to employment for those who can and want to work. It's just not fair that so many people are still denied the social, financial and health benefits we know work and all it gives you brings.

       So, I will build upon this Government's track record that saw over one million more disabled people move into work, five years ahead of schedule.

       I am positive and ready to help deliver our multi-billion pound Back to Work Plan and new Chance to Work Guarantee – so that the one in five people on incapacity benefits who tell us they want to work can do so without fear of losing their benefits.

       What I learned through our experience is the value we placed on the support my dad was given and his determination to overcome obstacles. In that spirit, I will work tirelessly to protect the most vulnerable and do everything I can to give disabled people every chance to be listened to, in order to thrive and have better everyday day lives.

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