Local authorities in London have questioned why the government’s Work Programme is finding jobs for so few disabled people, when council-run schemes are much more successful. London Councils pointed to an analysis of government figures, which showed that fewer than five […]
Disabled MP silent over ‘extremist’ claims
Activists have reacted with a mixture of anger and bemusement after a disabled MP appeared to brand nearly every organisation campaigning against cuts to disabled people’s support as “extremists”. The Conservative MP Paul Maynard used a Commons debate to attack campaigning, […]
Father fears for disabled son’s life if family are deported
The family of a boy with autism who are threatened with deportation have warned that his life is at risk if they are forced to return to Nigeria. Pius Fadoyin has been in the UK for 10 years, after coming here […]
Anxiety from service-users as Atos appears in mental health units
A mental health trust has defended its decision to carry out disability assessments on behalf of the controversial outsourcing company Atos. Mental health service-users at four sites run by Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust have been alarmed to see Atos-branded leaflets […]
Brewer finally resigns over ‘outrageous’ comments
A councillor who shocked and outraged campaigners after suggesting to Disability News Service (DNS) that it might be a good idea to kill some disabled babies has finally resigned. In an interview with DNS shortly after his election in May, Collin […]
Benefits pilot is steering a ‘dangerous’ course
Horrified campaigners say a new government pilot project that will see sick and disabled people forced to attend meetings with doctors – or face losing their benefits – is “abhorrent” and “dangerous”. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said that […]
Watchdog rolls over for Treasury despite Spending Round equality fears
The equality watchdog has refused to investigate the Treasury’s apparent failure to meet its legal duty to consider in due depth how its spending decisions for 2015-16 will affect disabled people. Two weeks ago the Conservative chancellor, George Osborne, laid out […]
Concern as CPS and courts fail yet again on disability hate crime
The failure of the appeal court to increase the sentence given to a man who killed a disabled, gay teenager shows again the need to strengthen the laws on disability hate crime, say campaigners. The court of appeal said this week […]
DWP press chief faces grilling by MPs over disability stats
The civil servants responsible for the press releases and statistics that come out of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) were grilled this week by MPs investigating the repeated, misleading use of disability benefits figures by the government. MPs such […]
Together! 2012 could make borough ‘centre of excellence’ for disability arts
A new disabled-led organisation is aiming to make an east London borough an “international centre of excellence” for disability arts and culture. Together! 2012 began as a free disability arts and human rights festival in the London 2012 host borough of […]