John Pring

Crime

July 20, 2017 0

Ten years on, campaigners ask again: ‘If these are not hate crimes, what are?’

Six new cases in which disabled people have been the victims of brutal and degrading assaults have cast fresh doubt on the criminal justice system’s ability to recognise, punish and prevent disability hate crime. It is 10 years this month since journalist Katharine Quarmby and colleagues at Disability Now magazine drew public attention to

Activism and Campaigning

Jared O'Mara, flanked by a woman and a man, in front of a row of houses

July 20, 2017 0

Jared O’Mara calls for action on bullying and harassment by MPs

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A newly-elected disabled MP is calling for action to address the bullying and harassment he has witnessed in the House of Commons, in a bid to introduce a new culture of “decorum and professionalism” into parliament. Jared O’Mara has previously spoken to Disability News Service (DNS) about some of the access barriers he has

Activism and Campaigning

Police officers talking to activists in the House of Commons

July 20, 2017 0

McDonnell calls for disabled-led solution to care crisis, as DPAC occupies parliament

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Labour’s shadow chancellor has called for disabled people themselves to be given the job of designing the solution to the social care funding crisis. John McDonnell was speaking to Disability News Service (DNS) as activists from Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) were protesting about cuts to social care, in parliament’s central lobby yesterday (Wednesday).

Human Rights

July 20, 2017 0

DR UK’s new boss pledges better links with other DPOs and grassroots groups

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The new boss of Disability Rights UK (DR UK) has pledged to do more to involve young disabled people in the organisation’s work, and improve its relationships with other disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) and grassroots campaigning groups. Kamran Mallick (pictured) took over as chief executive of the national, pan-disability, user-led organisation this month, following

Politics

Marsha de Cordova, smiling, in front of a river, wearing a Labour rosette and holding a railing

July 20, 2017 0

Disabled MP credits mainstream education for new parliamentary career

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A newly-elected disabled MP has said that she would never have been elected to parliament if her mother had not fought for her right to a mainstream education. Marsha de Cordova used part of her maiden speech to other MPs – during a debate on the scheduling of parliamentary business – to highlight the

Employment

July 20, 2017 0

Senior civil servant admits draft industrial strategy failed on disability

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A senior civil servant has admitted to MPs and peers that the government’s industrial strategy will not be “fit for purpose” unless it corrects its failure to consider disability and other equality issues in a green paper it published in January. Alex Williams, the civil servant responsible for sector deals* for the Department for

Employment

Two men, one with a lawyer's wig, and the other wearing a red, fur-trimmed robe, in the House of Lords

July 20, 2017 0

Equality watchdog and parts of disability movement ‘fail to highlight achievers’

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A government adviser has criticised the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) and parts of the disability movement for failing to do enough to highlight “disabled achievers”. The criticism comes in a new report which was co-authored by the government’s disability employment adviser, Professor Francis Davis, who was appointed to the Office for Disability

Activism and Campaigning

Two female wheelchair-users hold placards saying 'assisted suicide is not the solution'

July 13, 2017 0

Activists set for ‘David and Goliath’ fight to defeat assisted suicide court bid

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A group of disabled activists – led by a crossbench peer – are to intervene in a legal case for the first time next week, in a bid to persuade three high court judges not to weaken the law to allow assisted suicide. Not Dead Yet UK (NDY UK), a campaign group of disabled

Human Rights

July 13, 2017 0

Government’s UN response ‘exposes failings on disability convention’

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The government has ignored key evidence that demonstrates widespread breaches of the UN disability convention, according to disabled people’s grassroots groups and organisations that are working together to expose its failings. They spoke out after the government submitted its response to concerns raised earlier this year by a UN committee, which described where it

Author John Pring