The disabled activists behind a ground-breaking report that accused the government of misleading parliament over its welfare reforms say major concessions agreed by a coalition minister are a victory for disabled people. As peers prepared again to consider plans to scrap […]
DLA reform: Disabled peers secure concessions from government
Disabled peers have secured a string of key concessions from the government on its controversial disability living allowance reforms (DLA). Members of the House of Lords this week debated amendments to the welfare reform bill on government plans to abolish DLA […]
DLA reform: Dame Anne set to probe DWP’s Spartacus evasions
A senior disabled MP is to examine the government’s failure to respond to allegations that it misled parliament over its disability living allowance (DLA) reforms. Dame Anne Begg, the Labour MP who chairs the influential work and pensions select committee, this […]
DLA reform: Nearly half a million set to lose support
Government cuts to vital disability benefits will be even harsher than the coalition previously admitted, with nearly half a million people set to lose their right to disability living allowance (DLA). The government finally published figures this week which show estimates […]
Disabled US actor highlights UK hate crime at Golden Globes
A disabled American actor has caused an internet sensation after using his acceptance speech at a televised US awards ceremony to offer support to the British victim of a disability hate crime attack. Peter Dinklage was accepting his Golden Globe for […]
CPS barrister to be quizzed over hate crime sentencing failure
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is reviewing a barrister’s decision not to call for stricter sentences for three people who took part in a “degrading” hate crime attack on a disabled man. The man, who has learning difficulties, was taped to […]
Minister denies social care crisis
A health minister has refused to accept the existence of a huge gap between the care and support disabled people need and the funding made available to pay for it. Paul Burstow, the Liberal Democrat care services minister, was giving evidence […]
Trio of ESA victories soured by Freud’s ‘disgraceful’ ploy
Opposition and independent peers have secured three key victories over the government in the battle to reverse its planned cuts to out-of-work disability benefits. Crossbench and Labour peers combined with a small number of Liberal Democrat rebels –although a larger number […]
Report finds ‘serious inaccuracies’ in fitness for work tests
A new report has revealed “serious inaccuracies” in the assessments of disabled people’s “fitness for work” carried out by the private company Atos Healthcare on behalf of the government. The charity Citizens Advice analysed 37 reports written by Atos “healthcare professionals” […]
Government ignores disability in £1 billion youth sport strategy
The government has failed to explain why its new youth sport strategy contains almost no references to disabled young people. The £1 billion, five-year Creating a Sporting Habit for Life strategy was launched this week by culture secretary Jeremy Hunt as […]