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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

Disabled MP who quit government over benefit cuts tells DNS: ‘The consequences will be devastating’

Disabled peers plan to ‘amend, amend, amend, amend, amend’ after assisted dying bill reaches Lords

Minister finally admits that working-age benefits spending is stable, despite months of ‘spiralling’ claims

This bill opens the door to scandal, abuse and injustice, disabled activists say after assisted dying bill vote

Timms says cuts must go ahead, despite being reminded of risk that disabled claimants could die

Absence of disabled people’s voices from assisted dying bill has been ‘astonishing’, says disabled MP

Timms misleads MPs on DWP transparency and cover-ups, as he gives evidence on PIP review

Ministers are considering further extension to disability hate crime laws, after pledge on ‘aggravated’ offences

Making all self-driving pilot schemes accessible would be ‘counter-productive’ and slow us down, says minister

Involve disabled people ‘meaningfully’ from the start when developing digital assistive tech, says report

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