As the political rhetoric increases ahead of UK local elections, neurodivergent people are being misrepresented, misunderstood and used as a political prop.
As an autistic person who has advised senior leaders for over 30 years in the UK and abroad, I can say without hesitation that autism is not a deficiency — it is a different and often exceptional way of thinking. It provides strengths that our economy and society desperately need.
Nigel Farage, Reform UK’s leader, claimed at a Dover campaign event that people with neurodevelopmental disabilities might never “get out” from victimhood. He suggested that professionals who support these individuals weaken British society. This is not just misinformed speech. This is inflammatory and damaging.
Farage turned a complex, human issue into a political wedge rather than tackling it with empathy and facts. Farage’s claim that schools or families manipulate the system to get benefits is not only false, but stigmatises parents and caregivers and undermines already fragile support networks.
The pattern is troubling
Autism is not a passing trend. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with long-term implications. This type of rhetoric is not new and fits into an alarming pattern. It’s not that more people are being diagnosed. It’s a long overdue recognition of the problem, especially for girls and those who do not fit into outdated stereotypes.
Farage’s remarks follow a familiar pattern. They are a scapegoat of immigrants, minorities and now neurodivergents as an easy target for systemic failures. Neurodiversity is not the issue. The issue is that society has not yet adapted to, supported, or understood difference.
As Chairwoman of Holmes Noble – a global executive recruitment firm – I have seen the immense value that neurodivergent professionals can bring to businesses. Autistic people and those with cognitive differences such as ADHD or dyslexia often have a strong sense of systems thinking, are innovators and can challenge groupthink. They can bring unique insights, resilience and pattern recognition to business and social transformation.
Neurodivergence: A resource
Deloitte claims that teams with neurodivergent employees can be 30% more productive. Harvard Business Review describes neurodiversity as a “competitive edge” in the innovation-based economy. These findings should encourage organisations and HR leaders to think about how tailored support and inclusive hiring strategies can unlock the potential of this group, not only for the individual but also for the business.
Farage’s rhetoric can be so harmful. It does more than reinforce stigma. It blinds the nation to vast potential.
neurodivergents are flourishing in all industries: finance, technology, engineering, education and the arts. Students who are willing to push the boundaries of what is possible, entrepreneurs who reinvent possibilities, and leaders with integrity and insight.
I did not achieve success because I was autistic. I achieved success as a result of being autistic. They are not my flaws. My ability to question assumptions and my comfort with complexity, for example, is not a weakness. These are the foundations for my leadership. When a public figure calls people like me victims, I don’t take it personally. I see it as an opportunity to act.
Reframing the narrative
This narrative must be reframed. Neurodiversity should not be tolerated or managed, but rather embraced. The problem is not that more people are diagnosed. Our systems haven’t yet evolved to support these people.
It’s not about political correctness. It’s all about building a more sustainable, smarter future, and achieving economic growth. Neurodivergent people are not a burden. They’re a vital part of the solution.
Farage’s remarks show just how much work remains, but also why it is important. We must stop listening those who minimize difference and learn from those who experience it.
Neurodivergents are not “victims” but Entrepreneurs. Innovators. Strategists. Visionaries. Inclusive Leaders. Catalysts of change. We’re also reshaping work in the future — to the benefit of everyone.
