News Archive

February 6, 2015

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‘Muddled’ blue badge reforms ‘are to blame for renewal delays’

The government’s refusal to introduce a national system to administer applications for blue parking badges is to blame for lengthy delays and backlogs across the country, according to a leading disabled motoring expert. Last month, retired Paralympian Steve Varden described the system as a “national problem, scandal and injustice”, after he was fined by

Education

February 6, 2015

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UN debate will be reminder of true inclusive education

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A high-profile day of debate will be a chance to remind the United Nations – and the UK government – what disabled people mean by “inclusive education”, say campaigners. The UN’s committee on the rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD) has issued a call for submissions to feed into a day of discussion on

Benefits and Poverty

January 30, 2015

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IDS breaks pledge on PIP waiting-times, as tens of thousands still queue for months

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Government ministers have broken their high-profile promise to slash all waiting-times for the new disability benefit to less than four months. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) refused to comment yesterday (Thursday) on the broken promise that – by the end of 2014 – no new claimant would be waiting longer than 16

Benefits and Poverty

January 30, 2015

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Miliband causes chaos with answer on ILF closure

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Labour leader Ed Miliband caused chaos this week after he was asked if he would save the Independent Living Fund (ILF) if Labour won power at May’s general election. Miliband told the audience that the government “should not be getting rid of the Independent Living Fund”, and that “if it does go to the

Benefits and Poverty

January 30, 2015

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Ministers change the story – yet again – on benefit-related deaths

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Ministers have admitted releasing yet more inaccurate information about their secret inquiries into the deaths of benefit claimants. Last year, the Department for Work and Pensions stated, in a Freedom of Information Act (FoI) response, that it did not hold any records on deaths linked to, or partially caused by, the withdrawal or non-payment

Activism and Campaigning

January 30, 2015

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Activists claim Lib Dem’s suicide pledge is ‘deadly discrimination’

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The Liberal Democrats have been accused of “deadly discrimination”, after they failed to pledge that their new target of “zero suicides in the NHS” would also apply to terminally-ill people. Disabled activists campaigning against the legalisation of assisted suicide were initially encouraged when the party announced a new “zero tolerance” policy on suicide. Nick

Activism and Campaigning

January 30, 2015

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Tories and Labour flunk office access test

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Four of the seven leading political parties have backed calls for all MPs to have constituency offices that are accessible to disabled people. Despite public announcements professing support for making it easier for disabled people to participate in politics, the Conservatives and Labour parties have so far refused to back the call from disabled

Human Rights

January 23, 2015

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Lib Dems silent on assisted dying bill, despite goal of ‘zero suicide NHS’

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The Liberal Democrats have refused to say whether setting a new “ambition” for “zero suicides” in the NHS would be compatible with proposed laws that would legalise assisted suicide. Nick Clegg, the party leader and deputy prime minister, said at this week’s launch of the new policy: “This isn’t about blame. It is doing

Arts, Culture and Sport

January 23, 2015

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Artists’ banners were 800 years in the making

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Three disabled artists this week played a central role in an event held to celebrate the 750th birthday of the UK’s first parliament. Six huge banners designed by the three artists joined 12 other banners in an exhibition in Westminster Hall, the oldest surviving part of the Palace of Westminster. The launch of The

Benefits and Poverty

January 23, 2015

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Evidence mounts in case against government’s sanctions regime

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Disturbing fresh evidence emerged this week that the government’s strict sanctions regime is harming the health and well-being of many out-of-work sick and disabled people. A series of media reports and research publications, as well as an evidence session before MPs, highlighted the pressure imposed on civil servants to refer claimants – many of

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