Politics

February 8, 2018 0

Renovations to Houses of Parliament ‘must provide step change in access’

A disabled peer has told the House of Lords that plans for a major “restoration and renewal” of the Houses of Parliament must ensure a “step change” in the provision of disability access in a building that can be “extremely unwelcoming” to disabled people. Baroness [Sal] Brinton, president of the Liberal Democrats and a

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Emily Brothers speaking at the Cambridge Union

February 1, 2018 0

Labour must act on ‘shameful’ lack of disabled people on NEC, says party activist

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A leading Labour activist has called for action to address disability discrimination within the party and the “shameful” lack of disabled people on its ruling national body. Emily Brothers has told Disability News Service (DNS) that she will be seeking one of nine seats available on Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) for candidates representing

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Sarah Newton speaking in Westminster Hall

January 11, 2018 0

Minister hid judges’ criticism of McVey from MPs, hours after shock appointment

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The minister for disabled people has refused to apologise for misleading MPs about a court of appeal judgment that was highly critical of her new boss, Esther McVey, just a day after her appointment as the new work and pensions secretary. Sarah Newton was responding to a Commons debate on the Independent Living Fund

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Lord Shinkwin speaking in the House of Lords

January 4, 2018 0

Disabled Tory peer says government rejection of pub access plan is an ‘insult’

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A disabled Tory peer has accused his own government of insulting disabled people by rejecting the chance to improve access to pubs, clubs and restaurants. Lord [Kevin] Shinkwin said his party was in danger of “disowning” the laws it introduced through the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) more than 22 years ago. He was speaking

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Mark Harper speaking in the House of Commons

December 14, 2017 0

DWP allowed just two print interviews with disability minister in five years

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Conservative ministers for disabled people have given fewer than 20 interviews to national print and internet media since the 2010 general election – an average of less than three a year – according to information obtained by Disability News Service (DNS). There were no interviews arranged by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

Politics

December 7, 2017 0

Party activist says lack of disabled people on Labour’s ruling body is ‘ludicrous’

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An activist is seeking election onto Labour’s ruling national body as part of a campaign to improve the representation of disabled people throughout the party. Sarah Taylor is one of two disabled members of the new Project 125 campaign who are seeking election to Labour’s national executive committee (NEC), which oversees the party’s policy-making

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November 30, 2017 0

Tory peer attacks government over possible EHRC commissioner ‘cover-up’

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A disabled Conservative peer has accused the government of a possible cover-up, over the equality watchdog’s failure to appoint him as its disability commissioner. Lord [Kevin] Shinkwin spoke out in parliament on Friday (24 November) about what he said was the “shocking” behaviour of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). But he also

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Sarah Newton speaking in the House of Commons

November 16, 2017 0

New minister for disabled people criticised by her local DPO over voting record

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The new minister for disabled people is facing criticism over her voting record on disability issues from a user-led organisation that provides support in her own constituency. The Cornish MP Sarah Newton was appointed as the new minister late last week as a replacement for Penny Mordaunt, who has been promoted to international development

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Robert Halfon talking to Sebastian Payne behind a table

November 16, 2017 0

Disabled MP seeks new laws to outlaw ‘rip-off’ hospital parking charges

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A disabled MP has introduced new legislation that would ban all NHS hospitals from “rip-off” parking charges imposed on patients, staff and visitors. The Conservative MP Robert Halfon, a former minister and now chair of the Commons education select committee, said the imposition of car parking charges by hospitals was “the bane of people’s

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