Ministers quietly drop plans for ‘parallel process’ on working-age social care
Ministers have quietly decided to include the support needs of working-age disabled people in their new social care green paper, scrapping the idea of having a separate “parallel programme of work” as they try to address the social care funding crisis. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) previously said it would focus only
DWP’s secret benefit deaths reviews: Investigations into deaths double in two years
The number of secret reviews carried out by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) into deaths linked to benefit claims appears to have doubled in the last two years, according to figures the information watchdog has forced the government to release. The figures relate to the number of internal process reviews (IPRs), investigations conducted
Hope for major social security ‘brutality’ campaign after ‘breakthrough’ Labour meeting
Many of the disabled activists who have played a key role in exposing the harm caused by the government’s social security cuts and reforms have come together for a “breakthrough” campaign meeting attended by five Labour shadow ministers. Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who chaired the meeting, said afterwards that he believed that it could
Hope for major social security ‘brutality’ campaign after ‘breakthrough’ Labour meeting
Many of the disabled activists who have played a key role in exposing the harm caused by the government’s social security cuts and reforms have come together for a “breakthrough” campaign meeting attended by five Labour shadow ministers. Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who chaired the meeting, said afterwards that he believed that it could
Lib Dem conference: Members vote for rights-based reform to mental health laws
Liberal Democrats have called for an end to “discriminatory” laws that allow people with mental health conditions or learning difficulties who have capacity to make their own decisions to be detained against their will. Current mental health legislation means that a person assessed as needing urgent medical treatment and assessment because of a “mental disorder”
Lib Dem conference: Party anger over DPAC’s ‘don’t vote Lib Dem’ call
Two leading disabled Liberal Democrats have criticised anti-cuts activists over their public call for disabled people not to vote for their party. Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) published a high-profile message on social media this week during the party’s annual conference in Brighton, warning that disabled people “won’t forget” and “won’t forgive” its junior role
Exhibition of photographs aims to show ‘story arc of Deaf community’
A new exhibition of pictures by two Deaf photographers will highlight the achievements of a dozen Deaf people, and the barriers they face, and help to tell “the story arc of the Deaf community”. Among the 12 subjects to be featured are the award-winning actor and writer Jean St Clair (pictured), who has performed in
MPs win praise for online abuse proposals
MPs have won praise after calling on the government to ensure disabled people finally secure equality in the protection they are offered by hate crime laws. Members of the Commons petitions committee said in a new report that it was not right that it was a crime to incite hatred on the grounds of religion
Minister condemned for ‘woeful’ response to residential special school review
Inclusive education campaigners have condemned the government’s “woeful” response to a review of the experiences of disabled children and young people in residential special schools. The Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) said the government had again failed to take action that would “turn the tide against increased segregated education” and improve inclusive education in mainstream
Minister condemned for ‘woeful’ response to residential special school review
Inclusive education campaigners have condemned the government’s “woeful” response to a review of the experiences of disabled children and young people in residential special schools. The Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) said the government had again failed to take action that would “turn the tide against increased segregated education” and improve inclusive education in mainstream
New job stats raise questions over ministers’ boasts on disability employment
New figures obtained by a disabled people’s organisation – after ministers refused to commission the work themselves – appear to show how the government relies on the growth in self-employment and part-time jobs to exaggerate its success in increasing disability employment. Ministers such as work and pensions secretary Esther McVey (pictured) have repeatedly boasted of
Deaths and hospital admissions follow short-notice closure of Leonard Cheshire home
At least two disabled people have died while others have been admitted to hospital following the short-notice closure of a residential home by a disability charity. Leonard Cheshire faced allegations of “insensitive and abusive” behaviour in May over the way its executives told disabled residents that they were about to close their care home because
Train companies could face court over inaccessible rail replacement buses
Train companies are facing possible legal action over their failure to ensure that replacement bus services are accessible to wheelchair-users and other rail passengers with mobility impairments. A leading disabled campaigner believes that access and equality laws mean most rail replacement buses – used when companies scrap train services because of engineering works or other
