The government has refused to say which organisations it approached in advance about setting up a new “alliance” of disabled people’s organisations (DPOs), charities and private and public sector organisations. Concern at the proposal to set up the new Disability Action […]
London 2012: LOCOG defends lack of disabled talent in closing ceremony
The organisers of London 2012 have been heavily criticised after admitting that only 37 of the 1, 100 volunteers who performed in the Paralympic Games closing ceremony were disabled people. This proportion of 3.4 per cent is slightly higher than the […]
Liberal Democrat conference: Confusion over party’s position on disability benefits cuts
The Liberal Democrats have refused to rule out further government attacks on disability benefits, even though their president has suggested the party will not allow any more cuts. Tim Farron was speaking to Disability News Service (DNS) after party members voted […]
Liberal Democrat conference: Osborne ‘partly to blame’ for care funding failure
The chancellor, George Osborne, and his civil servants in the Treasury are to blame for the government’s failure to deliver vital reform of the funding of long-term care and support, according to the former Liberal Democrat care services minister. Paul Burstow, […]
Liberal Democrat conference: Disabled MP says welfare reform heading ‘in right direction’
A disabled Liberal Democrat MP has insisted that the government is “moving in the right direction” with its programme of welfare reforms. Stephen Lloyd, a member of the Commons work and pensions committee, said he believed measures to improve the much-criticised […]
Liberal Democrat conference: Minister admits ‘risks’ with assisted suicide law
The new Liberal Democrat care services minister has admitted he is not convinced that the necessary safeguards can be found that would allow assisted suicide to be legalised, despite backing calls for new laws. Norman Lamb alarmed many anti-euthanasia campaigners when […]
Liberal Democrat conference: Disabled woman tells party she lives on 50p a day
A disabled woman has told the Liberal Democrat conference how cuts to her benefits have reduced her to living on 50 pence a day and eating at soup kitchens. Jemma Charlton was one of the disabled party members who spoke in […]
Liberal Democrat conference: Party votes for review of impact of welfare reform
Liberal Democrats have voted overwhelmingly in favour of resisting any further cuts to welfare spending that would fall “disproportionately” on disabled people. The party’s annual conference in Brighton also demanded an independent review of the impact of the Welfare Reform Act […]
Anger over government’s new ‘disability quango’
The UK’s leading disabled people’s organisation (DPO) has attacked a government decision to set up an “alliance” of DPOs, charities, and private and public sector organisations that will be asked to produce new disability policies for the coalition. Plans for the […]
SNP ducks question over Atos sponsorship of Glasgow 2014
The Scottish National Party (SNP) has refused to say if “fitness for work” contractor Atos should be allowed to sponsor the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, even though more than half of its MSPs have publicly criticised the company. Glasgow 2014 looks […]