Labour will appoint a shadow minister for neurodiversity in a bid to improve its policies around autism and other behavioral differences.

The announcement follows an open letter to Jeremy Corbyn by Monique Craine, a blogger who campaigns for autism rights, who suggested the idea.

John McDonnell, Labour shadow chancellor, backed the plan in public earlier month and said he would consult on the issue.

Speaking at a book launch over the weekend he said the shadow minister proposal was “brilliant idea” for increasing representation.

“We want to represent the whole of society fairly. At the moment we are focusing on LGBT, we’re focusing on women, we’re focusing on race, etc,” he said, according to the Guardian newspaper.

“But what about neurological diversity as well? And I think that’s come on to the agenda.”

The shadow chancellor added that Labour would draw up an autism manifesto created by people who were on the spectrum themselves, with policies relevant to their lives.

The new position follows the appointment of an explicit shadow minister for mental health in the shadow cabinet for the first time.

Mr Corbyn, who has long campaigned on mental health issues, created that point as one of his first acts after being elected leader.

Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Show all 10 1 /10 Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 30 per cent of people deal with anxiety by talking to a friend or relative, or by going for a walk. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report Almost one in five people feel anxious all or a lot of the time. PA Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 22 per cent of women feel anxious a lot or all of the time, compared to 15 per cent of men. Roman Levin/Flickr Creative Commons Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 45 per cent of people who feel anxious in everyday life cite financial issues as their biggest cause of worry. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report And 26 per cent of people who feel anxious say fearing for the welfare of their children and loved ones leaves them burdened with worry. And 26 per cent of people say fearing for the welfare of their children and loved ones leaves them burdened with anxiety. Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report 27 per cent of people who suffer from anxiety say work issues, such as long hours, are the source of the problem. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report But 16 per cent use alcohol to cope, while 10 per cent turn to cigarettes in the face of anxiety. Unemployed people are more likely to resort to these harmful strategies: 27 per cent use alcohol and 23 per cent use cigarettes. AFP/Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report Only seven per cent of people who say they suffer from anxiety seek help from their GP. Getty Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report People are thought to be more anxious than they were five years ago. Alessandra/Flickr Creative Commons Mental Health Awareness: Facts and figures Mental Health Foundation: Living With Anxiety report The stresses of modern life are thought to have created "The Age of Anxiety". Getty

Mark Lever, Chief Executive of the National Autistic Society, said other parties should consider adopting similar ideas.

"The proposals put forward by the Shadow Chancellor look promising. We need more details but, if followed through, they should give welcome attention to the particular and diverse needs of autistic people and their families," he said.

"We'd encourage other parties to consider developing similar ideas, especially creating a position with specific responsibility for autism.

"More than 1 in 100 people are on the autism spectrum and many of them face huge barriers each day, just to do things that others take for granted - whether that's being supported in school, finding a job or even feeling able to go to the cinema or shops without feeling judged.

"We're pleased that the Shadow Chancellor emphasised the importance of making sure that autistic people and their families have a central role in developing these plans.