Lord Holmes

Independent Living

June 16, 2016

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‘Alarming’ court decision on traffic lights ‘puts blind shoppers at risk’

By Raya Al Jadir A Paralympic goalball star has lost his legal case against a council that switched off the traffic lights in a busy shopping area – in order to create a “shared space” street design – leaving him and other blind and visually-impaired people unable to cross the road. Simon Goodall, who

Arts, Culture and Sport

June 9, 2016

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EHRC commissioner calls on sports bodies to act on disabled board members

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The equality watchdog’s disability commissioner has called for the country’s major disability sports organisations to take action over the “disappointing” number of disabled people on their boards and among their paid staff. Lord [Chris] Holmes, himself a retired, record-breaking Paralympian and now disability commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission, spoke out after

Activism and Campaigning

April 28, 2016

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‘Enforcement is key on Equality Act’

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Lawyers campaigners, peers and academics have spoken of how disabled people can find it almost impossible to enforce their rights to equality, six years after the introduction of the Equality Act. They were speaking at a seminar in London – organised by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds, the legal

Activism and Campaigning

April 21, 2016

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Tory peer faces calls to quit as EHRC commissioner over support for WRAG cuts

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Disabled campaigners are calling for the resignation of the equality watchdog’s disability commissioner, the disabled Tory peer Lord [Chris] Holmes, after he voted in favour of disability benefit cuts when they had been condemned by his own organisation. The letter to Lord Holmes (pictured) at the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has been

Benefits and Poverty

April 14, 2016

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Fears over government links as equality watchdog launches welfare probe

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The equality watchdog is facing concerns over links between the government and two of its leading figures as it prepares to investigate whether Tory welfare reforms have breached the human rights of disabled people. Last week, Disability News Service (DNS) revealed that the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) was to examine the impact

Human Rights

April 7, 2016

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Equality watchdog to mirror UN inquiry into DWP’s rights violations

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The equality watchdog is to commission a major piece of research into whether the government’s welfare reforms have harmed the human rights of disabled people and other minority groups. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) says it wants to examine the impact of changes to the welfare system on independent living and poverty.

Politics

January 28, 2016

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MPs call on government to reopen fund for disabled politicians

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A cross-party group of MPs have called on the government to reopen a fund that provided financial support for disabled people who want to stand for election to parliament or local councils. The Access to Elected Office fund – which offered grants to disabled people to pay for their additional impairment-related costs in standing

Arts, Culture and Sport

The three presenters of The Last Leg riding mobility scooters in the Outback

January 21, 2016

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Channel 4 enlists YODA for its Year of Disability

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Channel 4 has pledged to double the number of disabled people appearing in 20 of its biggest TV shows this year, as part of what it is calling its Year of Disability. The broadcaster’s commitment to increase representation of disabled people on and off screen came as it marked 12 months since the launch

Activism and Campaigning

January 21, 2016

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Tributes paid to campaigner’s ‘steely determination, selflessness and dignity’

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Friends and fellow activists have paid tribute to the anti-euthanasia and disability rights campaigner Dr Kevin Fitzpatrick, whose life and death “epitomised the true meaning of dignity”. Fitzpatrick – who died on 15 January, leaving a wife, Fabienne, and three adopted children – played a huge part in the ongoing campaign to oppose the

Human Rights

December 4, 2015 0

Watchdog marks UN day by announcing assault on ‘virus of social isolation’

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The equality watchdog has marked the UN’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) by announcing national summits in England, Wales and Scotland to address the “virus of social isolation” faced by growing numbers of disabled and older people. In a speech at Westminster, Lord [Chris] Holmes, the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s disability

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