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 […]
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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 […]
Grants give user-led disability charities ‘breathing space’ in fight for survival
Some of the user-led disability organisations that have suffered most from the effects of public spending cuts have won government grants aimed at guaranteeing their short-term survival. The Department of Health grants come from a fund set up to support charities […]
Disabled people set to take councils to court over cuts
A disabled people’s organisation is considering legal action against its local council over its failure to consult properly on plans to make deep cuts to care services. Disability Equality (nw) (DENW) has pledged to support disabled people willing to take a […]
New concerns over impartiality of assisted suicide commission
New concerns have been raised about the impartiality of a commission set up to examine the possible legalisation of assisted suicide. Disability News Service revealed in December that at least eight of the 12 commissioners have in the past supported a […]