The UK’s most influential disabled people’s organisation (DPO) has become embroiled in a row over its involvement in helping the outsourcing giant Capita win a multi-million pound benefits assessment contract. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) announced in August that […]
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Miller faces questions after new minister admits Access to Work spending has plunged
The government have finally admitted that spending on its Access to Work (AtW) employment support programme for disabled people has plummeted since 2010. Disability News Service (DNS) has repeatedly reported on figures showing the number of disabled people receiving funding through […]
CPS and police clueless over sharp drop in disability hate crime prosecutions
Both the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the police have been unable to explain a sharp drop in the number of prosecutions for disability hate crime. The CPS released its annual hate crime report today, which shows the number of disability […]
Courts to be asked to declare government’s ILF consultation unlawful
Six disabled people have launched a legal action over the government’s decision to scrap the Independent Living Fund (ILF). They will ask the courts to declare that the coalition’s public consultation on the proposed closure – which ended last week – […]
Universal credit ‘could drive hundreds of thousands over the edge’
Campaigners are involved in a stand-off with the government over a major new report that warns hundreds of thousands of disabled people could find themselves driven “over the edge” by welfare reforms. Baroness [Tanni] Grey-Thompson led the inquiry by Disability Rights […]
End of McKinnon’s 10-year ordeal raises new questions
Autistic rights campaigners have welcomed the government’s decision to end the 10-year extradition ordeal of Gary McKinnon, but say his case raises key questions for other disabled people within the criminal justice system. Theresa May, the Conservative home secretary, announced this […]
Trio tell new minister that coalition is jeopardising London 2012 legacy
The new minister for disabled people has been told by a disabled activist, a disabled peer and a Paralympic torch-bearer that her government is jeopardising the legacy from this summer’s Paralympic Games. Esther McVey faced the trio of blunt warnings at […]
Support for SEN reforms, but frustration continues over funding for segregation
The coalition has received some backing from disabled people’s and disability organisations for its proposed special educational needs (SEN) reforms, but has been warned that key concerns remain over its funding for segregated schools. Support for the reforms, which will be […]
Activist secures high-profile backers for electoral assault on Corby
A disabled activist set to fight next month’s by-election in Corby has become the first candidate to be backed by a new political movement that wants to see non-career politicians elected to parliament. Adam Lotun has become a leading figure in […]
Conservative conference: Alarm as Osborne announces new £10bn welfare cuts
The chancellor has sparked an angry reaction after pledging to make another £10 billion worth of benefit cuts in the first year after the next general election. George Osborne made the promise – later backed by work and pensions secretary Iain […]