The chief executive of a disability charity has turned down an MBE in the New Year’s Honours list in protest over the government’s policies around disabled people.

Glasgow Disability Alliance CEO Tressa Burke said the main reason for declining the personal honour was that “disabled people are being so dishonoured” in government policy.

“Political choices made by the UK government to cut disabled people’s benefits and the services which are vital to support us – programmes like Access to Work - on the one hand are unforgivable betrayals of disabled citizens but on the other hand make no economic sense,” she said.

“These measures will not get people into work but will make people more unwell and create further inequalities and demands on services.”

Burke has more than two decades experience in supporting disabled people, including as a board director at Inclusion Scotland. She has been CEO of Glasgow Disability Alliance since 2006.

Last summer a coalition of disability campaigners called for urgent reform of the Access to Work scheme to support disabled people in employment. They warn it is “failing badly” due to cuts and delays.

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