Disability News Service

Disability News Service (DNS) is managed by John Pring, a seasoned journalist with nearly two decades of experience covering disability topics. He started DNS in April 2009 to fill the gap in detailed reporting on matters impacting the lives of individuals with disabilities, both in specialized and general media. Read more.

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Starmer faces disabled people’s fears as senior MPs quiz him over benefit cuts

2 weeks ago | disabilitynewsservice.com | John Pring

The prime minister has been forced to face the fears of disabled people who are unable to work and have been left feeling “full of panic” and “physically sick” at the thought of benefit cuts that could leave future claimants £3,000 a month worse off.
Angry response from campaigners as rail minister seeks to reassure MPs about government’s access plans

2 weeks ago | disabilitynewsservice.com | John Pring

Disabled activists have delivered an angry and dismissive response to a government minister who has tried to justify dropping plans to put accessibility at the heart of rail reforms from a critically-important public consultation. In a letter to the Commons transport committee, Lord [Peter] Hendy appeared to dismiss evidenced concerns about the consultation that had been raised by accessible transport campaigners.
Disabled people’s organisations tell Kendall benefit cuts are ‘incredibly dangerous’ and consultation is a ‘sham’

2 weeks ago | disabilitynewsservice.com | John Pring

Leading disabled people’s organisations (DPO) have written to work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall to express “serious concerns” about the human rights implications of her “incredibly dangerous” plans to cut spending on disability benefits. They say in the letter that her consultation on the Pathways to Work green paper, launched officially this week after the long-awaited publication of accessible versions of the document, is a “sham”.
Three firms of solicitors working with disabled people on possible benefit cuts legal cases

2 weeks ago | disabilitynewsservice.com | John Pring

At least three legal firms are examining ways in which they could support disabled people and their organisations to challenge some of the government’s proposed cuts to disability benefits in the courts. Public Law Project (PLP), Leigh Day and Bhatt Murphy – all of which have previously supported disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) to challenge the government – are examining the possibility of taking legal action.
Motability Operations stays silent over how much high street banks benefit from disabled people’s car scheme

2 weeks ago | disabilitynewsservice.com | John Pring

The company that runs Motability has repeatedly refused to say how much money the four high street banks that own the business are making from the £7 billion-a-year disabled people’s vehicle leasing scheme. Motability Operations, which is owned by Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest and HSBC, reported nearly £7 billion in revenue last year, but it has never been clear how much the four banks make from their long-standing ownership of the company.
RNIB has ‘washed its hands’ of braille users after ending free service, says blind campaigner

2 weeks ago | disabilitynewsservice.com | John Pring

A disabled campaigner claims the disability charity RNIB has “washed its hands” of those with the most significant levels of visual impairment, after scrapping its long-established free braille transcription service.
Labour minister faces questions over sister’s move to cut PIP by billions, after ombudsman’s DWP death ruling

2 weeks ago | disabilitynewsservice.com | John Pring

A Labour minister – the sister of chancellor Rachel Reeves – is facing difficult questions after an ombudsman’s ruling linked a constituent’s suicide with the flawed personal independence payment (PIP) system, just as her sister announced £4.5 billion cuts to PIP spending. Ellie Reeves, MP for Lewisham West and East Dulwich and a Cabinet Office minister and chair of the Labour party, had referred her constituent’s case to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman in December 2021.
Tory councillors silent over death of disabled man whose PIP was stopped, as council refers case for possible review

2 weeks ago | disabilitynewsservice.com | John Pring

Conservative councillors responsible for housing, social care, public health and safeguarding have all refused to comment on the death of a disabled man who was found dead in distressing conditions after the wrongful removal of his disability benefits. David*, from Salisbury, was found dead in his home in Salisbury in February, just weeks after his personal independence payment (PIP) had been stopped when he failed to return a review form.
MP warns prime minister his social care delays risk reform being ‘kiboshed’ at next general election

2 weeks ago | disabilitynewsservice.com | John Pring

The prime minister has been warned by a senior MP that his decision to delay reform of adult social care in England risks Labour’s plans being “kiboshed” at the next general election. Sir Keir Starmer was appearing in front of the Commons liaison committee* on Tuesday when he was questioned about the delay by Layla Moran, the Liberal Democrat chair of the Commons health and social care committee.
Lords is ‘aeons ahead’ of Commons on access, disabled MP tells colleagues

3 weeks ago | disabilitynewsservice.com | John Pring

The House of Lords is “aeons ahead” of the Commons when it comes to providing an accessible working environment for parliamentarians, a disabled MP has told an inquiry. Labour’s Dr Marie Tidball was one of four disabled MPs, and a disabled former MP, who gave evidence to the Commons modernisation committee on Tuesday about the barriers they have faced in trying to do their job.