Baroness Thomas

Politics

Lord Shinkwin speaking, from behind a table

May 17, 2018 0

Equality watchdog’s attempt to ‘mainstream’ disability ‘is failing disabled people’

The equality watchdog is failing disabled people by attempting to “mainstream” disability and treat it the same way as the other eight characteristics protected by the Equality Act, peers have warned. The House of Lords was debating the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s decision that it no longer needed a disability commissioner, and to

Independent Living

November 30, 2017 0

Government fails to back bill that could open up access to 800,000 wheelchair-users

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A disabled Tory peer has attacked the government for failing to support new laws that would provide access for 800,000 fellow wheelchair-users to 60,000 shops, pubs and cafés across England, Scotland and Wales. Lord Blencathra – former Home Office minister David Maclean – received strong cross-party support for his Equality Act 2010 (amendment) (disabled

Transport

Baroness Thomas speaking in the House of Lords

February 9, 2017

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Peer pressure sees minister finally announce date for taxi access laws

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The government has finally announced the date when it will bring into force regulations that will ban taxi drivers from discriminating against wheelchair-users, more than 20 years after they were first included in legislation. From 6 April, taxi and private hire vehicle drivers will face a fine of up to £1,000 if they refuse

Independent Living

Baroness Campbell speaking in the House of Lords, with a PA by her side

February 9, 2017

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‘Hard Brexit’ could see disabled people lose right to independent living, say peers

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The process of exiting the European Union (EU) could worsen the social care crisis if the UK government does not protect access to personal assistants (PAs) from EU countries, disabled peers have warned. They told a work and pensions minister that uncertainty over the “Brexit” negotiations with fellow EU members was leading to “terrible

Benefits and Poverty

September 22, 2016

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Lib Dem conference: Bid to scrap WCA approved, despite calls for more radical reform

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Liberal Democrats have voted for a new social security policy that will scrap the “fitness for work” test and all benefit sanctions, despite many disabled party members calling for a more radical approach to welfare reform. The vote at the party’s annual conference in Brighton (pictured) means that scrapping the work capability assessment (WCA),

Politics

Baroness Campbell speaking in the debate, next to her PA and then Baroness Brinton

September 8, 2016 0

Government must rip up response to Equality Act report, say disabled peers

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Disabled peers have demanded that the government rips up its “frustrating”, “clichéd” and “tepid” response to a major House of Lords report on the Equality Act’s impact on disabled people. The Equality Act 2010 and disability committee reported in March on how equality legislation affects disabled people, following a nine-month inquiry. The committee concluded

Transport

July 14, 2016

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PIP reassessments mean 35,000 will lose Motability vehicles in 2016

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Disabled people are being forced to hand back their Motability vehicles at a rate of up to 700 a week because of the government’s austerity cuts and reforms to disability benefits, according to the organisation’s own figures. Motability expects 35, 000 vehicles to be handed back by disabled people during 2016 as a result

Transport

Baroness Campbell speaking in the House of Lords

May 12, 2016

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Wheelchair taxi rules will finally come into force… after 20 years

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A report by peers on the impact of equality legislation on disabled people appears to have secured its first success after the government agreed to bring into force taxi regulations – 20 years after they were first included in legislation. The regulations will mean that taxi-drivers can no longer refuse to accept wheelchair-users, and

Benefits and Poverty

May 12, 2016

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It is ‘not value-for-money’ to collect vital PIP stats on 20-metre rule, says DWP

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Two disabled peers have criticised ministers for refusing to collect figures that would demonstrate the impact of a key element of new benefit rules that will see tens of thousands of people losing their Motability vehicles. The Liberal Democrat peer Baroness [Celia] Thomas and the crossbench peer Baroness [Tanni] Grey-Thompson spoke out after a

Politics

March 24, 2016

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Government is failing disabled people on discrimination, say peers

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The government is failing to protect disabled people from discrimination, according to the conclusions of a nine-month investigation by a House of Lords committee. The Equality Act 2010 and disability committee has concluded that laws designed to address disability discrimination were “not working in practice”, while government spending cuts were having “a hugely adverse

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