David Blunkett

disability:    blind     Politics:      right-wing New Labour     An arch-Blairite, he was the Home Secretary at the turn of the century, until 2004. Was the Education Secretary in Tony Blair's government who was largely responsible for the introduction of university tuition fees and the axing of the student grant. Became the Home Secretary for a while, involved in drafting numerous controversial, often right-wing, pieces of legislation. While in charge of the Department of Work and Pensions, continued to launch attacks on Incapacity Benefit. Not at all liked by the left, ourselves included ! David Blunkett profile on Guardian Unlimited Big Blunkett blogspot

Julius Caesar disability: epilepsy (source) Famous Roman emperor The Julius Caesar site Julius Caesar: The Last Dictator Web page about Julius Caesar Julius Caesar on Schools History website

Winston Churchill

disability:    lisp (source)     Was Prime Minister of the UK during World War II.     Often seen as a war hero, yet in peace time he was mostly a right-wing Tory b*****d. The Churchill Centre Direvtgov section on Winston Churchill

Ken Coates      disability:    slightly deaf                     diabetic     Politics:    Socialist, was a member of the Socialist Alliance Was a Labour Party MEP, before being expelled from the party for opposing Tony Blair by voting against cuts in benefits for single parents and disabled people. Was a leading figure in the Alternative Labour Group and the Independent Labour Network. Was a prominent member of the North Derbyshire Socialist Alliance - which has now merged into the Derbyshire Respect Coalition Was involved in the anti-Balkan War campaign, against the bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999.

William Cuffay     disability:    slight walking disability     Politics:      left-wing revolutionary     One of the leaders of the Chartist movement of the early 19th century, the first working-class political movement in the UK. William Cuffay profile on Spartacus Schoolnet William Cuffay on The Black Presence in Britain website

Vic Finkelstein disability: uses a wheelchair Politics: left wing Vic Finkelstein was a pioneer of the disability rights movement in the UK, being one of the pioneers of the Social Model of Disability. For a history of how he became active in disability politics, read A Personal Journey Into Disability Politics, written by Finkelstein in 2001. A list of links to many of Vic Finkelstein's writings on disability

 

Antonio Gramsci disability: spinal deformity ("hunch back") (source) Politics: Italian revolutionary socialist Websites: An Introduction to Gramsci's Life and Thought Resources on Antonio Gramsci Gramsci Links Archive

Ernesto Che Guevara

disability:    asthma     Politics:      left-wing revolutionary     A leading figure in the Cuban revolution.     Also involved in revolutionary activities in several Latin American countries and even Africa.     His books and left-wing political beliefs make him an inspiration to many revolutionaries even today. Websites: El Comandante Che Guevara Che Lives Che Guevara and the Spirit of Revolution (SWP viewpoint)

 

David Icke disability: arthritis (source) Politics: started as an ecologist, now an increasingly bizarre conspiracy theorist Was a leading member of the Green Party from the late 1980s until the early 1990s. Read more about him and his - increasingly bizarre - beliefs at www.davidicke.com

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin disability: epilepsy (source) politics: revolutionary communist instrumental in the 1917 Russian Revolution, and continued to rule the USSR until 1922 presided over (arguably) the only true socialist society the world has ever seen. one of the great Marxist theorists, his writings are still followed by several socialist groups, including the UK Socialist Workers Party Websites Lenin on History Learning Site Lenin Museum Archive of Lenin's writing

 Rosa Luxemburg

• disability: slight limp (source)
• politics: German revolutionary socialist

Websites:

• Rosa Luxemburg on Spartacus Schoolnet
• Rosa Luxemburg Internet Library

Peter The Great

Russian Czar     disability:    asthma (source)     Politics:    Royal    (and right-wing with it ...)     lived:    1672 - 1725 Peter The Great played an important part in creating the conditions for the development of Western Capitalism in Russia. Royalists often seem to believe that Royals are in some way "a race apart" from the rest of us. This is not true - they are no different from, and no more able to rule than, the rest of us - except that they are in power because their families have been in power for generations before them. Indeed, some Royals have had disabilities - such as the Russian Czar, Peter the Great (as he modestly called himself). In my opinion, all Royals - even disabled Royals - should be done away with ! Peter the Great of Russia Peter The Great section at the History Learning Site

Franklin D Roosevelt

disability:    movement-related disabilities, resulting from Polio (source) Politics:      slightly left-wing reformist     Ex USA President (was President for 3 terms)     Democratic Party Started as a moderate reformist, but was too reformist for the US Establishment and big business who "pulled out" their support for him. Survived as President by appealing more to the Working Class, by becoming more reformist. Ironically, he kept his disability, largely, a secret as he feared - if it became public knowledge - it would endanger his position as President. Which is a great shame, considering he was one of the USA's better Presidents (in my opinion).  Websites: Franklin Roosevelt section at Spartacus Schoolnet Biography of Franklin D Roosevelt

Pat Stack

disability:    movement disability, uses a wheelchair, resulting from Thalidomide pregnancy Politics:      left-wing revolutionary, was part of the Socialist Workers Party's organizing committee. Unlike Roosevelt, Pat Stack does not keep his disability hidden. As well as having a brilliant political understanding, he is a great speaker and does several meetings every year at Marxism (the SWP's "summer school") in London. Wrote the "Stack On The Back" article in Socialist Review, the SWP's monthly magazine, from the 1980s until July 2004.

Harriet Tubman

• Disability: narcolepsy (source)

Abolitionist (1830-1913)

As a child she was struck by an overseer. The blow fractured her skull and resulted in narcolepsy for the rest of her life.

She rescued hundreds of slaves on the underground railroad.

• The Life of Harriet Tubman
• Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad

George Washington

disability: learning disability (source) The first President of the USA. Had a learning disability. He could barely write and had very poor grammar skills. Biography of George Washington

Other political activists

Helen Keller

disability: deaf and blind Most famous as a deaf-blind teacher, Helen Keller was also an active socialist. For more details, read The Socialist Legacy of Helen Keller. Helen Keller reference archive Helen Keller section at Spartacus Schoolnet

Heather Mills

Image source: Jeanette's celebrity corner

Disability: Amputee, left leg amputated Has campaigned for animal rights and vegetarianism, and against landmines, seal hunting and the fur trade. A former glamour model. Has appeared on BBC TV's Celebrity Come Dancing. Links: Heather Mills official website Heather Mills section on Wikipedia

Other famous people with disabilities have been known for their left-wing or socialist viewpoints, eg the scientist Albert Einstein, the poet Lord Byron, and the science-fiction author H.G.Wells.

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