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The disabled activist who chaired the committee that drew up the Liberal Democrat’s raft of new equality policies has told the party that they offer a “vision for a fairer society with opportunity for all”. Belinda Brooks-Gordon told her party’s annual […]
A Liberal Democrat government would aim to reduce the stress caused to disabled people by multiple assessments, ensure ministers stop talking up the issue of benefit fraud, and provide more personalised, locally-based employment support. The party wants local authorities to be […]
The chancellor has been accused of misleading voters, after he pledged that disability benefits would not be affected by a two-year “freeze” on social security. George Osborne told a delighted Conservative party conference in Birmingham this week that working-age benefits would […]
The new Conservative minister for disabled people has insisted that his department is right to ignore reports of deaths linked to the loss or non-payment of disability benefits. Mark Harper said he did not accept that the Department for Work and […]
Conservative ministers and MPs have attempted to persuade visitors to their annual conference that the party’s sweeping welfare reforms are helping to support disabled people back into work. Welfare reform minister Lord [David] Freud even bragged at one fringe event that […]
A disabled Conservative campaigner who is battling to save the Independent Living Fund (ILF) has accused her own party of avoiding the “hot potato” issue of social care. ILF-user Mary Laver travelled from her home on the edge of Newcastle-upon-Tyne to […]
A disabled charity boss has described the “uphill battle” she has faced in trying to persuade the NHS to improve its wheelchair services for disabled children. Ruth Owen, chief executive of Whizz-Kidz, told her charity’s fringe meeting at this week’s Conservative […]
A Tory MP has accused independent living equipment providers of “profiteering” by charging “eye-watering” prices, and described his frustration at failing to persuade Asda – a previous employer – to launch a range of cut-price disability aids. Philip Davies told a […]
The Labour leader Ed Miliband has shocked and upset disabled activists within his own party by making a disablist “joke” about being taken away “by the men in white coats”. They said they feared that such a “graphic” image would only […]
Labour leader Ed Miliband has delivered another snub to disabled people, after delivering an hour-long speech to his party’s annual conference without mentioning them once. During his much-criticised speech, Miliband found time to mention young people, older people, businesses, entrepreneurs, charities, […]