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You are here: Home / Archives for Mike Smith

Mike Smith

New legal advice boss hopes to address disabled people’s ‘huge unmet need’

By John Pring on 9th February 2023 Category: Human Rights

New legal advice boss hopes to address disabled people’s ‘huge unmet need’
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The new disabled boss of a legal advice organisation is hoping to use the position to address the “huge unmet need” for such support among disabled people across the country. Mike Smith (pictured), a former disability commissioner of the Equality and […]

ONS suggests NHS disability discrimination may have increased risk of COVID deaths

By John Pring on 18th February 2021 Category: Human Rights

ONS suggests NHS disability discrimination may have increased risk of COVID deaths
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Official figures have provided the first statistical evidence to suggest that unfair practices or discrimination within the NHS may have caused disabled people to be at a higher risk of death from COVID-19 during the pandemic. The Office for National Statistics […]

Human Rights Act review ‘must not lead to weakening of disabled people’s rights’

By John Pring on 10th December 2020 Category: Human Rights

Human Rights Act review ‘must not lead to weakening of disabled people’s rights’
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A review of the Human Rights Act, announced this week by the government, must not be used as an opportunity to water down its protections, disabled human rights experts have warned. Although the government said this week that the review was […]

‘Devastating’ COVID deaths figures ‘show government breached disabled people’s right to life’

By John Pring on 24th September 2020 Category: Human Rights

‘Devastating’ COVID deaths figures ‘show government breached disabled people’s right to life’
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“Devastating” new official figures showing how many disabled people have died from coronavirus demonstrate that the government has violated its obligation to protect their right to life, says a leading disabled expert. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show disabled […]

Coronavirus: Call for inquiry and urgent action after ‘shocking’ disability death stats

By John Pring on 25th June 2020 Category: Human Rights

Coronavirus: Call for inquiry and urgent action after ‘shocking’ disability death stats
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Disabled people’s organisations have demanded an inquiry into the reasons behind the disproportionately high number of deaths of disabled people during the pandemic, following the publication of “shocking” and long-overdue official figures. They have also called on the government to take […]

Equality watchdog needs further legal powers, MPs are told

By John Pring on 17th January 2019 Category: Human Rights

Equality watchdog needs further legal powers, MPs are told
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The equality watchdog should be given greater powers that would allow it to take more legal cases against organisations that breach the Equality Act, a disabled former commissioner has told MPs. Mike Smith, who chaired the disability committee of the Equality […]

Minister’s ‘rosy picture’ causes stir among campaigners

By John Pring on 6th November 2015 Category: Benefits and Poverty

Minister’s ‘rosy picture’ causes stir among campaigners
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Campaigners have questioned a series of claims by the minister for disabled people that there have been substantial improvements to major government disability programmes. Justin Tomlinson, who was appointed to the post in May, spoke this afternoon (Thursday) to two separate […]

Britain would become ‘world leader’ in disability employment… if plan succeeds

By John Pring on 6th November 2015 Category: Employment

Britain would become ‘world leader’ in disability employment… if plan succeeds
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The minister for disabled people has said that Britain would become a “world leader” in securing jobs for disabled people if it manages to meet its target of halving the disability employment gap. The prime minister, David Cameron, has put his […]

Real voices bring home day-to-day struggles to ‘horrified’ peers

By John Pring on 18th September 2015 Category: Politics

Real voices bring home day-to-day struggles to ‘horrified’ peers
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Members of a House of Lords committee examining the impact of the Equality Act 2010 have visited a user-led organisation to hear from disabled people on how the legislation has affected their day-to-day lives. Six members of the committee – including […]

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Latest Stories

Covid inquiry criticised for sidelining disabled people who received support at home in pandemic

‘Deep concern’ over minister’s refusal to guarantee free personal care for working-age adults

Instagram, Facebook and TikTok fail to act on animations spreading hate and lies about PIP claimants

The Times blocks DNS from raising concerns with its readers about DWP deaths, in response to Burnham ‘welfare inquiry’ article

Disabled people who rely on PIP face ‘constant fear’ that physical activity could see them lose their benefits

Relationship and sex education failures put disabled pupils at risk of abuse, says new report

Slow but steady progress on UK air travel access improvements, says report

Disability News Service will continue publishing stories, despite indefinite closure of Canary

Conservatives’ £1 billion Motability VAT plan will decimate scheme and raise almost nothing, figures show

Leaked DWP ‘corner-cutting’ plans reveal changes to checks on assessments that will cause ‘even more risk’

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Image of front cover of The Department, showing a crinkled memo with the words 'Restricted - Policy. The Department. How a Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence. John Pring.' Next to the image is a red box with the following words in white: 'A very interesting book... a very important contribution to this whole debate' - Sir Stephen Timms, minister for social security and disability. plutobooks.com and the Pluto Press logo.

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