Disability Politics UK

Independent Living

September 6, 2018 0

Anger over government’s ‘pathetic’ election access report

The government’s response to a consultation on how to make voting more accessible to disabled people has sparked anger among disabled campaigners, after it failed to offer a single new measure to improve access. One disabled campaigner branded the government’s report “pathetic” while another said the failure to act had made him “really angry”.

Activism and Campaigning

Michelle Daley speaking into a microphone as someone holds up a large piece of paper in front of her

February 8, 2018 0

Disabled women celebrate vote centenary but warn of slow progress on rights

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Disabled activists have celebrated this week’s 100-year anniversary of women gaining the right to vote but have warned that disabled women are still facing breaches of their rights in all areas of life. On Tuesday (6 February), there were public celebrations to mark 100 years since parliament passed the Representation of the People Act

Politics

Jared O'Mara, flanked by a woman and a man, in front of a row of houses

October 26, 2017 0

Disabled MP’s offensive remarks ‘should end his political career’

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A series of offensive remarks made by a disabled MP about other minority groups and women should end his political career, according to members of a disabled women’s collective. Sisters of Frida was among disabled groups and activists who spoke to Disability News Service (DNS) this week following revelations that Labour’s Jared O’Mara, now

Politics

Four people standing on steps, each holding pieces of paper with Scotland 2021 written on them

August 4, 2016

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Paper calls for political parties to move from ‘one in 129’ to ‘one in five’

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A user-led campaign has called on Scotland’s political parties to do more to increase the number of disabled people elected as MSPs at the next election in 2021. The cross-party campaign One in Five published a discussion paper this week which includes a series of idea for producing a more representative Scottish parliament. The

Politics

March 17, 2016

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Lib Dems set to choose Westminster candidate from an all-disabled shortlist

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The Liberal Democrats are set to become the first political party to choose a candidate to fight a parliamentary seat from a shortlist containing only disabled people. The party voted overwhelmingly at its spring conference in favour of measures to improve the diversity of candidates fighting Westminster seats at the next general election in

Politics

March 10, 2016

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Brexit ‘would have dire consequences for disabled people’

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By Raya Al Jadir and John Pring Leaving the European Union (EU) would have “harmful” and “dire” consequences for disabled people, according to two of the first leading disabled figures to speak out on June’s referendum. The UK will decide whether to leave the EU in a referendum on 23 June, but almost nothing

Politics

People gathered outside the Scottish parliament holding placards and banners

February 25, 2016

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Access to politics ‘birthday gift’ will ‘strengthen Scottish democracy’

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A user-led campaign is celebrating a £200, 000 “birthday gift”, after the Scottish government announced funding that will pay for some of the extra costs faced by disabled people who want to stand in next year’s local government elections. One in Five a cross-party Scottish campaign which was launched a year ago, said the

Politics

Simeon Hart signing in front of a screen

November 27, 2015

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‘Heartless’ decision to stop election access funding ‘is breach of UN convention’

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The government is making it harder for disabled politicians to stand for elected office by failing to renew a fund that paid for their disability-related campaign expenses, according to a candidate in next month’s parliamentary by-election. Simeon Hart (pictured), who is standing for the Green party in Oldham West and Royton, was the only

Politics

Emily Brothers speaking at the Cambridge Union

September 18, 2015

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Government must act on disabled politicians, says equality watchdog

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The equality watchdog has called on the government to do more to boost the number of disabled people involved in politics. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) made the call in its submission to a UN inquiry into the rights of disabled people to participate in political and public life, which is due

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