News Category

Whately appears to agree social security spending is not spiralling after all… as Tories plan £36 billion-a-year cuts October 8, 2026
The Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary may finally have accepted that spending on social security is not “out of control”, just as her party says it wants to cut more than £36 billion a year from the “welfare” budget. The apparent […]
John Pring
Shadow minister says parents don’t ‘game’ SEND system… but Kemi says disabled adults do ‘game’ the benefits system October 8, 2026
A Tory shadow minister has said that accusing parents of “gaming the system” to secure support for their disabled children is “populist BS*”, just hours after his leader accused many disabled adults of doing exactly that when claiming benefits. The contrasting comments […]
John Pring
Level boarding pledge in government strategy is welcomed, but railways bill amendments are still vital October 8, 2026
Disabled campaigners have welcomed a government strategy that says new passenger trains should aim to allow level boarding wherever possible, but they say key amendments to the railways bill will be needed to make the plan a reality. They have also called […]
John Pring
DWP silent after Tory member of PIP review publishes report demanding child disability benefits are slashed October 8, 2026
The government has refused to say whether the disability minister was told that a member of the steering group reviewing personal independence payment (PIP) was about to publish a report calling for spending on disability benefits for children to be slashed. Jean-André […]
John Pring
Access failures at Tory conference leave wheelchair-user suspended in mid-air for more than an hour October 8, 2026
An accessible transport expert was left stuck in mid-air on an unsafe platform lift for over an hour at this week’s Conservative conference, just after the party’s own disability group admitted access was not a priority for the Tories. Clive Gilbert, head […]
John Pring
Ministers’ decision to slash accessible housing targets was ‘unprincipled’, but Timms says they were right October 8, 2026
The disability minister has supported his government’s “unprincipled” decision to slash accessible housing targets set by the last Conservative government. Under plans put forward by Tory ministers, 100 per cent of homes would have had to be built to the M4(2)* accessible […]
John Pring
Greens sideline disabled people at annual conference October 8, 2026
The Green party has been unable to explain why it failed to use its “biggest ever party conference” in Brighton this week to promote any new policies aimed at addressing the many societal barriers facing disabled people. Analysis of the 12 press […]
John Pring
National accessibility standards are crucial for addressing transport barriers, Tories hear at conference October 8, 2026
Transport industry managers are failing to budget for access to be embedded from the start of major projects because of the lack of national accessibility standards, a meeting at this week’s Conservative party conference has heard. The fringe meeting in Birmingham – […]
John Pring
Tories discriminate against disabled editor by blocking DNS from receiving key information at conference October 8, 2026
The Conservative party has refused to explain why it blocked Disability News Service (DNS) from receiving its press releases at its annual conference, and why it refuses to answer questions on disability-related policy. Although DNS was granted media accreditation to this year’s […]
John Pring
Free social care is coming… but only if you’re over 65, government confirms after Burnham speech October 1, 2026
Andy Burnham’s announcement of free personal care as part of a new National Care Service will only apply to those over 65, and not to working-age disabled people, No 10 has confirmed, sparking shock and concern among disabled people’s organisations. The prime […]
John Pring