Comments by new work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall, and her support for a controversial report, suggest she wants to increase pressure on disabled people to move off benefits and into work, while disregarding risks to their health. Kendall announced this week […]
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High court case poses challenge to new government’s commitment to disability justice and co-production
A disabled campaigner helped to challenge the new government in the high court this week over the impact of accelerating climate change, and its commitment to co-producing policy with disabled people and their organisations. Doug Paulley, and fellow disabled activist Kevin Jordan, […]
First Covid inquiry report ‘shows criminally negligent’ attitude of previous governments
The first report of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has shown how successive governments displayed a “criminally negligent” attitude towards protecting disabled people and other groups at risk from pandemics, according to disabled campaigners. Disabled people’s organisations said this week that it was […]
DWP claims missing stats on secret deaths investigations in annual report was just an error
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has claimed that the omission from its annual report of potentially damaging statistics about deaths linked to universal credit was just an error. The figures would have shown how many deaths linked to universal credit […]
Government silence on new flight rights laws, after documentary exposes discrimination
The new government has refused to say if it will introduce laws aimed at improving protection for disabled air passengers, after a powerful new documentary exposed the repeated discrimination they face. Sophie Morgan’s Fight to Fly, broadcast on Monday by Channel 4, […]
Labour’s DWP set to continue with appeal linked to scrapping of ‘fit for work’ test
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is set to continue with an appeal against a watchdog’s decision that it should release vital information about plans to scrap the work capability assessment (WCA). Government lawyers are set to argue in the appeal […]
Labour’s Cabinet Office refuses to release information on Tory Disability Action Plan
The Cabinet Office has refused to release information that would confirm how little the last government was planning to spend on its much-criticised short-term plan that it claimed would improve disabled people’s lives. The plan, which contained 32 actions across 14 areas, […]
Disabled activists pledge ‘no hiding place’ for Labour’s new government
Disabled activists have today “thrown the gauntlet down” to the new Labour government, as more than 100 protesters gathered opposite the House of Commons to call for action to address the damage caused by 14 years of Conservative rule. They demanded that […]
Labour government sidelines disabled people in first king’s speech
The first king’s speech of the new government has confirmed fears that Labour has no immediate plans to address the social care crisis or to take other decisive action on disability rights. Although some of the new bills announced yesterday (Wednesday) included […]
New disability minister pledges to put disabled people’s voices at heart of government’s work
A senior MP with decades of social security experience has been appointed as the new minister with overall responsibility for disability issues, and has pledged to ensure “disabled people’s views and voices are at the heart of all we do”. Although his […]
New minister’s commitment to transparency under spotlight after regulator orders DWP to release deaths info
A new Labour minister’s commitment to transparency about the safety of universal credit has immediately been placed under the spotlight, after his department was ordered by a regulator to release vital information from secret reports into claimant deaths. As chair of the […]
Human rights watchdog ‘neutered’ by years of Tory appointments, say activists
Disabled activists have called on the new Labour government to reform the equality and human rights watchdog, after years of appointments of divisive figures to its board by Conservative ministers have left it “neutered” and unable to do its job. The concerns […]
England’s Euros run saw rise in ‘deeply offensive’ online comments
England’s Euro 2024 run to the final was accompanied by a “deeply concerning” rise in disablist social media posts, many of them aimed at England players and their manager, say campaigners. The disabled-led charity Level Playing Field (LPF), which represents disabled sports […]
New disabled MP pledges to fight for inclusive education, and praises Commons staff
One of at least three new disabled MPs to be elected to parliament at this month’s general election says she hopes to help address the “depressing and unhappy legacy” left to disabled people by 14 years of Conservative-led governments. Dr Marie Tidball […]
Six days and 19,000 words into a new government, and just one mention of disability… then DWP claimant-blaming begins again
After six days in which disabled adults were ignored in a series of announcements from the new government, Labour’s work and pensions secretary has this morning launched an attack on the “unacceptable” number of people on out-of-work benefits. In its first six […]
Trio of new disabled MPs join House of Commons
The new House of Commons looks set for a small increase in its disability representation, with at least three new disabled MPs winning seats in last week’s general election. Of the 650 MPs elected last week, there may now be at least […]
Anger and frustration over Labour’s ‘disgraceful’ decision not to appoint Foxcroft as disability minister
The new government has yet to announce who will be Labour’s minister for disabled people, but the decision not to appoint Vicky Foxcroft to the post has set back relations with significant parts of the disabled people’s movement. Foxcroft, who has instead […]
Campaigners welcome election defeats for DWP ministers, but frustration as key trio survive
Campaigners have welcomed election defeats for a series of former Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ministers, while also expressing disappointment that three of the most unpopular figures from the last 14 years managed to survive the Labour landslide. There was some […]
Report poses crucial questions for Labour government on whether to scrap work capability assessment
A new report on the work capability assessment (WCA) has posed crucial questions for the new government on whether to scrap the test or improve it, just four days after Labour came to power in a landslide election victory. The Conservative government […]
Disabled people’s organisations call on government to ‘show you will be on our side’
Disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) have vowed to be a “critical friend” to the new Labour government, but they have called for it to “show our community that you will be on our side”. DPO Forum England, which represents more than 350 DPOs […]
The 14 DWP ministers – past and present – facing ‘punishment’ at the ballot box
Up to 14 current and former disability ministers, employment ministers and work and pensions secretaries could lose their seats at tomorrow’s election, giving disabled voters the chance to “punish” them for 14 years of cuts, misery, and countless deaths. Of the 11 […]