Disability activist Rick Burgess
Labour member Rick Burgess rejoined the party at the beginning of 2016, inspired by the party’s vision under its leader Jeremy Corbyn – and just missed the retrospective cut-off date imposed by the Labour National Executive Committee (NEC) to be able to vote in the 2016 leadership contest. So he paid the supporter’s fee £25 (increased controversially from the £3 fee the previous year) to be able to vote.
This was no small step – and no small sum – for Rick, who is disabled and also cares for his mum, who suffers from Alzheimers and vascular dementia. Rick himself has been ‘through the mill’ of multiple and punitive disability assessments.
The Labour and social justice movements owe a lot to Rick. He co-founded the WOW Petition which, led by comedian Francesca Martinez, was signed by over 104,000 people and made history by being the first motion brought to…
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nearlydead 