Glasgow Disability Alliance CEO Rejects New Year Honours MBE Citing Government Policies
Tressa Burke, chief executive of Glasgow Disability Alliance, has rejected the New Year Honours MBE awarded for her services to people with disabilities. She expressed her refusal in a letter posted to the Cabinet Office on X on 26 November 2025, where she criticized policy changes announced in the November Budget, including cuts to the Motability scheme.
Burke highlighted the severity of the situation for disabled people in Glasgow, mentioning concerns about heating and bills and describing the community as feeling under attack by government policies. She declared that she could not accept a personal honour while disabled people were being dishonoured by these governmental choices.
In her statements, Burke accused successive governments of wronging disabled people, stating that they have been blamed and relegated to the bottom of society. In a further letter dated 3 December 2025, she warned about the inadequacy of benefits and a form of backdoor taxation affecting social care. However, she did note some positive measures such as increases linked to inflation and the removal of the two-child benefit cap.
Burke argued that the Budget failed to sufficiently fund adult social care and predicted this would place additional strain on the NHS. She also criticized stricter assessments for the Personal Independence Payment. The Cabinet Office responded on 23 December 2025, thanking her for her email, indicating that the prime minister regretted not including her name in the 2026 honours recommendations but respected her decision to decline the award.
