A WIRRAL MP has joined forces with experts in the hope of putting people with disabilities in the picture.

Wirral South MP Alison McGovern visited Westminster to launch Sightsavers’ ‘Put Us in the Picture’ campaign - the international charity’s first campaign to influence the UK government.

The 18-month campaign, which was launched on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, will call on the government and political parties to include the world’s one billion people with disabilities in their efforts to tackle global poverty.

Despite having the same needs and rights as everyone else, disabled people are one of the most excluded and vulnerable of all groups in society, particularly in the world’s poorest countries.

As a result, many are being left behind and living with a disability more than doubles the chances of children never enrolling in school in some countries.

Ms McGovern joined parliamentarians, academics and disability charity chiefs at a Westminster briefing on December 3, to debate the issues and officially launch the campaign.

She said: “Across the world we see people with disabilities being excluded from health, education and employment opportunities, entrenching poverty.

“Sightsavers’ Put Us in the Picture campaign is absolutely right to urge the UK government to improve how its development policies include disabled people – in particular, that disabled people themselves need to be at the centre of development policy.

“We need to ensure that development policy delivers for all, and does not leave disabled people lagging behind in poverty.”