Tories block Disability News Service from receiving press releases, and stop answering its calls and emails

Disability News Service (DNS) has been blocked by Conservative head office from receiving any of the party’s press releases or even submitting media requests.

The move appears to have followed a series of factually-correct DNS news stories highlighting misleading announcements by the party around disability benefits.

These include reports questioning the party’s refusal to provide any details of its review of disability benefits, including who is carrying it out, and what attempts it will make to engage with disabled people.

DNS has also run a series of news stories on concerns passed to the statistics watchdog about misleading statements made by senior figures in the party about social security spending.

DNS has been running since 2009 and during that time has maintained a commitment to accurate reporting.

There has been no suggestion from the Conservative party that it has been concerned at the accuracy of any DNS reporting.

DNS is not aware of the party’s press office pointing out errors in any of its news stories.

The party stopped emailing its press releases to DNS at the end of May, and despite repeated requests for this to resume, there has been no suggestion that it will.

One Conservative press officer suggested earlier this month that the failure to provide press releases could be due to a technical error, and he promised to investigate.

But since then, despite further phone calls and emails, no action has been taken.

The party’s press office also appears to have stopped answering calls from DNS.

DNS has been unable to speak to any Conservative press officer this week as its calls and emails have remained unanswered.

The party had not commented by noon today (Thursday).

Picture: Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch