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A Liberal Democrat government would strengthen the equality watchdog, reverse some of the coalition’s attacks on equality law and toughen hate crime laws, according to a new policy paper. Among other key policies on equality, the paper says the party would […]
The government has produced a low-key report that summarises progress on its disability strategy, Fulfilling Potential. New documents published today (Thursday) aim to bring the strategy up-to-date and “show the progress that’s been made” across areas such as accessible information, improving […]
Work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith has been ridiculed for delivering a major speech about his sweeping welfare reforms, without mentioning the disastrous impact that many of the changes are having on disabled people. Duncan Smith spoke of how the […]
A work and pensions minister has been caught giving misleading information to the government’s own benefits advice body about the possibility of assessing the overall impact on disabled people of its sweeping welfare cuts and reforms. Lord Freud, minister for welfare […]
Disabled peers have spoken out to oppose – but also support – a new bill that would legalise assisted suicide for some terminally-ill people. The House of Lords heard from 133 peers during a marathon debate, with roughly half of them […]
The most senior civil servant in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been questioned by MPs about an investigation into alleged fraud by a company paid to find jobs for disabled people. Concerns raised about Seetec in a Disability […]
The prime minister has appointed a new minister for disabled people, just six months after he was forced to resign from his previous ministerial post. Mark Harper, the MP for the Forest of Dean, replaces Mike Penning, who leaves the post […]
Work and pensions ministers are facing acute embarrassment after losing their main excuse for refusing to assess the overall impact of their welfare cuts and reforms on disabled people. Ministers have repeatedly insisted that such a cumulative impact assessment (CIA) would […]
A shadow minister has warned that many of her fellow Labour MPs still need educating about the importance of independent living for disabled people. Kate Green, the shadow minister for disabled people, told a meeting held to launch the Just Fair […]
The disabled Labour MP and former home secretary David Blunkett has announced that he is to leave parliament at the next election. Blunkett told local party members in a letter that, after 28 years as an MP, it was “by far […]