The “dangerous” rollout of universal credit to half a million more claimants is a potential threat to the “safety and well-being” of disabled people who currently rely on so-called “legacy” benefits to survive, disability campaigners have warned. Tens of thousands of disabled […]
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Reforms to disabled students’ support ‘will confuse and dilute our rights’
The government is threatening to make sweeping changes to the system of support for disabled students in higher education, which would remove many individual payments and transfer further responsibility onto universities. The plans would mean that many disabled students would no longer […]
This is an existential crisis for disabled people, says campaigner after climate change court win
A disabled campaigner who has helped secure a significant legal victory in the fight against climate change has warned that the government’s failure to take the necessary urgent action will put the lives of countless disabled people at risk. Doug Paulley (pictured) […]
Mayor’s stats show failure to enforce his own accessible housing standards
London’s mayor has been failing for years to enforce his own London Plan, which requires 90 per cent of new homes to be accessible and adaptable, and another 10 per cent to be suitable for wheelchair-users. Analysis by Disability News Service of […]
Letter from DPOs accuses care cuts council of ‘inhumane’ policies
Four disabled people’s organisations have written to Bristol’s mayor to call on him to abandon “inhumane and unacceptable” social care policies that are set to breach disabled people’s right to live independently. Disability Rights UK, Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, Inclusion […]
Tory MP brands plan to scrap WCA and allow work coaches to decide fitness for work ‘a crazy idea’
A Conservative MP has branded government plans to scrap the work capability assessment (WCA) and hand jobcentre work coaches responsibility for deciding if someone is fit for work “a crazy idea”. Nigel Mills (pictured) made the comments as the Commons work and […]
Spring tour for austerity installation on DWP deaths that was inspired by war photographers
A spring tour of an award-winning installation is set to expose how the actions of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) caused “devastating violence” and led to countless deaths of benefit claimants in the austerity years. The mixed reality installation Museum […]
Trio of mayoral candidates show ‘contempt’ by snubbing disability hustings
Three candidates to be the next mayor of London have refused to explain why they failed to turn up to a packed hustings event that would have allowed disabled people from across the capital to question them on their policies. Just one […]
Met took formal action on just nine disability hate crimes in 2023, hustings is told
Only nine disability hate crimes in the whole of London led to significant action being taken by police last year, politicians have been told during a disabled people’s election hustings event. Although 600 disability hate crimes were recorded by the Metropolitan police […]
Government denies fixing Jodey Whiting inquest date to clash with Labour conference
The government has denied playing any role in deciding that a high-profile second inquest into a disabled woman’s suicide – linked closely to the actions of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – will clash with the Labour party conference. A […]
Disabled people living on the streets, yards from former DWP offices
Some of the hundreds of disabled people left homeless on London’s streets have described how they came to be living in tents just yards from where the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) used to have many of its offices. An area […]
Government is misrepresenting workplace disability inequality, MPs are told
A disabled people’s organisation has accused the government of misrepresenting the high levels of inequality faced by disabled people in the workplace. In its submission to an inquiry by a Commons committee, Disability Rights UK (DR UK) pointed to research which undermined […]
Call for volunteers to fill ‘massive gap’ in support for autistic survivors of sexual violence
A new disabled-led organisation is appealing for volunteers to help it fill the “massive gap” in support for autistic survivors of sexual violence and abuse, and allow their voices to be heard more loudly and enable them to influence change. Lotus Collaborations […]
DWP ‘destroyed evidence’ on secret investigations rules, in latest ‘cover-up’
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is again facing cover-up allegations after suggesting that it has destroyed reports showing why it weakened guidance on when to investigate suicides of benefit claimants. Disability News Service revealed last month that DWP had weakened […]
Cabinet Office finally finds missing report showing difficulties facing ‘vulnerable’ universal credit claimants
The Cabinet Office has finally found a missing report that showed the “additional difficulties” faced by “vulnerable” universal credit claimants, despite originally claiming it could not locate the document. The existence of the 2019 report was not known about outside government circles […]
Government’s response to UN committee ‘was insult to disabled people’
Disabled people’s organisations from across the UK have described the government’s evidence to a UN disability rights committee this week as “an insult to disabled people” and full of “half-truths, untruths” and “empty assertions”. Representatives from more than 10 disabled people’s organisations […]
UN committee asks government: ‘Why are you demonising disabled people?’
A United Nations committee has accused the UK government of demonising disabled people and treating them as “undeserving citizens” by preparing to fund tax cuts through slashing disability benefits. Members of the UN’s committee on the rights of disabled people provided a […]
MPs undermine key government claim, days after it defended its record at the UN
The government tried this week to persuade the UN that it has made “progress” since being found guilty of “grave and systematic violations” of the disability rights convention, just as MPs prepared to undermine one of its key claims. A delegation of […]
It was emergency planning that was vulnerable during Covid, not disabled people, inquiry is told
It was the emergency planning systems that proved to be “vulnerable” during the Covid pandemic, and not disabled people, the UK Covid inquiry has been told by two national disabled people’s organisations (DPOs). Disability Wales and Disability Rights UK (DR UK) told the inquiry, sitting […]
Government finally set to act on housing accessibility standards
The government is finally taking further steps towards introducing laws that would set a higher standard of accessibility for nearly all new homes in England. The government promised in July 2022 that it would consult on new rules that would force all new homes […]
Maggie Davis: Tributes to pioneer, rebel and advocate
Some of the country’s leading disabled activists have paid tribute to the “immense” contribution of Maggie Davis, an outspoken “rebel”, a powerful advocate and a pioneer of the independent living movement, who died last week at the age of 81. She was […]