A union has raised major concerns that a voluntary redundancy programme could lead to the closure of some of Remploy’s 54 remaining sheltered factories. The government-funded company has announced that 773 people – including 544 of its 2 800 disabled factory […]
News Archive
SEN green paper: Government’s plans ‘will set inclusion back 20 years’
Campaigners say the government’s plans for reforming the special educational needs (SEN) system will set the fight for inclusive education back 20 years. The Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) said the green paper proposals would “dismantle” the framework of support for […]
SEN green paper: Government set to remove rights to inclusion
Parents will have fewer rights to have their disabled children educated in mainstream schools, according to government plans for reforming the special educational needs (SEN) system. The green paper, Support and Aspiration: a new approach to special educational needs and disability, […]
Letter appeals to Miller over bill’s ‘anti-disabled people’ measures
Disabled activists, academics and politicians have appealed to a government minister to abandon measures in the welfare reform bill that are “anti-disabled people”. The open letter to Maria Miller, minister for disabled people, was signed by MPs, MSPs, members of the […]
Lack of detail ‘means welfare reform bill could unravel’
Opposition MPs have criticised the welfare reform bill for its lack of detail and have called on the government to abandon plans to scrap disability living allowance (DLA). But although Labour MPs queued up to criticise elements of the bill during […]
Mobility component cut ‘still on the table’
A cabinet minister has refused to confirm if the government still plans to cut welfare spending by £135 million a year by removing a key benefit from disabled people in residential care. Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith confirmed that […]
Expert support helps most disabled people win ‘fit for work’ appeals
As many as 80 per cent of people who have been represented by benefits experts in their appeals against being found “fit for work” have had that decision overturned MPs have been told. Members of the Commons work and pensions committee […]
Increased council cash for adaptations ‘will be swallowed up’
Increased funding for adaptations to people’s homes will be swallowed up by cash-strapped councils because of the government’s decision to stop “ring-fencing” the money, according to a leading disabled people’s organisation. Housing minister Grant Shapps has confirmed that funding for disabled […]
History walk offers quieter alternative for protesting voices
Disabled activists are organising an alternative and inclusive demonstration against government spending cuts, to run in parallel with the TUC’s major protest march later this month. The “history walk” will give people with experience of mental distress and others who are […]
Starmer receives plaudits for hate crime speech
Disabled activists have welcomed a speech by the director of public prosecutions, in which he has called for the criminal justice system to do more to tackle disability hate crime. Keir Starmer admitted that although the Crown Prosecution System (CPS) was […]