The number of Blue Badge permits issued to people with anxiety or ADHD has tripled, with 55,000 handed out last year, according to government data. This marks a significant increase from 18,000 in 2021, following a rule change in 2019 that extended eligibility to those with non-visible or hidden disabilities.
Rise in Permits
Figures from Labour Party analysis show that councils across England issued 55,000 of the parking permits for hidden disabilities in the past year. The 2019 rule change allowed people with conditions such as anxiety and ADHD to apply for a Blue Badge, which previously focused primarily on physical mobility issues.
Political Reaction
Richard Holden MP, the Conservatives' Shadow Transport Secretary, criticized the expansion, stating: "The blue badge scheme is being abused, and Labour's failure to ensure councils are applying the eligibility criteria consistently is letting down the people it is meant to help." He urged the government to review council guidance and stop what he called exploitation.
Concerns from Campaign Groups
Shimeon Lee, policy analyst at the TaxPayers' Alliance, expressed concern: "Taxpayers will be worried that a scheme designed for those with serious mobility issues is being stretched ever wider without enough scrutiny. While genuinely vulnerable people should receive support, councils must ensure blue badges are not becoming another entitlement vulnerable to mission creep and misuse. Ministers should tighten checks to restore confidence."
AA President's View
Edmund King, president of the AA, said: "The blue badge scheme is a mobility lifeline for millions of legitimate users and their families. Our concern is not the absolute number of badges issued but the estimates that up to one in five badges may be used by someone other than the holder or authorised user. We would welcome a crackdown on illegitimate use to safeguard deserving users."
Government Response
A Department for Transport (DfT) spokesman clarified: "A diagnosis of ADHD does not automatically qualify someone for a blue badge. Eligibility is based on how a condition affects a person's ability to get around, not on a diagnosis alone. Local councils are responsible for assessing each application on its own merits and have powers to tackle misuse, which is a criminal offence. The blue badge scheme is a vital lifeline for many disabled people, and we are committed to ensuring it reaches those who genuinely need it."
