24 h. ago ‘It’s not tokenistic’: how The Assembly became an international hit

Unpredictable questions from neurodivergent audience have created perfect interview format for social media ageIt is an interview like no other. One which has seen Emmanuel Macron confronted over whether it was right to marry his former teacher and Danny Dyer probed about whether he has a joint bank account with his wife. Celebrities have been caught off guard, or left sobbing and laughing in equal measure.The Assembly, in which an audience of autistic, neurodivergent and learning disabled people ask unpredictable, probing and often remarkably direct questions of a celebrity, has won plaudits and rave reviews since launching in 2022. It has now become an international phenomenon. Continue reading...

Events

46 h. ago Families, pensioners and disabled people due up to £305 in one

More than half a million children and families in Scotland received cash help for heating bills last year.

Economics

6 d. ago Starmer’s welfare cuts will see 340,000 more people in poverty than previously predicted, charity warns

340,000 more people in disabled households could face hunger and hardship by the end of the decade, new report says

Events

6 d. ago Disability cut impact could be even worse than expected warns food bank charity

Research commissioned by food bank charity Trussell found that 340,000 people in disabled households will be pushed into severe hardship by benefit changes being brought in by the Government

Events

6 d. ago Strictly's Jamie Bortwick issues apology for 'disgraceful' slur after BBC 'suspension'

EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick has issued an apology after using a derogatory term aimed at disabled people, while the BBC has reportedly suspended him

Politics

6 d. ago Strictly's Jamie Borthwick issues apology for 'disgraceful' slur after BBC 'suspension'

EastEnders actor Jamie Borthwick has issued an apology after using a derogatory term aimed at disabled people, while the BBC has reportedly suspended him

Politics

7 d. ago EastEnders' Jamie Borthwick 'suspended' after using offensive term in video

The TV star has reportedly been suspended from the BBC soap after he used a derogatory term to describe disabled people in a video.

Politics

9 d. ago Labour's 'winter fuel death tax': Tens of thousands of grieving families could be hounded to pick up their dead elderly relative's HMRC bill

The families of dead pensioners could be hounded by the taxman under Labour's winter fuel payments U-turn, it emerged yesterday.

Events

9 d. ago Families of dead pensioners could be chased by taxman to recoup winter fuel payment

'Unforeseen consequence' of Treasury’s plans to restore the payments as a universal benefit would see a six-month lag - and some pensioners could die during that time

Economics

9 d. ago Bereaved families of dead pensioners ‘could be pursued by taxman to recoup winter fuel payments’

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed that millions more elderly Britons will receive the allowance this year in a major U-turn

Economics

1 week ago Families, pensioners and disabled people due between £59 and £305 in one

Thousands of households will receive additional cash support from the Scottish Government.

Economics

1 week ago Disabled workers face 'pervasive' abuse as grim poll reveals offensive jokes and bullying

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) said disabled people are facing 'pervasive' mistreatment at work, including being the butt of offensive jokes and subjected to intrusive questioning

Events

1 week ago UK Blue Badge holders issued 'never assume' warning over parking in 7 places

Although the Blue Badge scheme does provide parking concessions to help disabled people get closer to their destinations, it doesn't permit them right to park anywhere

Events

1 week ago The ancient Chinese text of the Zhuangzi teaches us to reject entrenched values – and treasure the diversity of humanity | Karyn Lai

The Zhuangzi prompts us to reflect on the shallow attitudes of those who want to draw attention to what some people lack, rather than what they might haveMaking sense of it is a column about spirituality and how it can be used to navigate everyday lifeThe Zhuangzi, an ancient Chinese Daoist text written by the philosopher known by the same name, has a lot to say about people who are considered “disabled”. This is interesting in itself, as parts of it were written around the 4th century BCE, when only the privileged could read and write.Why would the authors of this text, men of privilege, be interested in people who were considered at the time to be “less than normal”? Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Revealed: The 'disturbing' messages police officers sent to each other in a WhatsApp group that saw them all sacked

Seven police officers have been sacked without notice over 'disturbing' WhatsApp messages that ridiculed women, disabled people, and even joked about hiding dead bodies.

Events

2 w. ago New Motability Scheme payment warning to people on PIP, ADP or other disability benefits

An estimated 815,000 disabled people across the UK are now leasing a vehicle or equipment through the Motability Scheme.

Events

2 w. ago Labour is taking the Pip – and disabled people have had enough | Cherylee Houston

I am in tears reading the stories of what might happen if these further cuts go ahead, which is why I’ve joined forces with others to demand actionDisabled celebrities urge Keir Starmer to scrap ‘inhumane’ benefit cutsWhy have so many deaf, disabled and/or neurodivergent public figures pulled together to launch the campaign #TakingThePIP?Every area of life as a disabled person is difficult – employment, social situations, healthcare, education, transport and by far the most pervasive and arduous: other people’s attitudes. Everything is a fight, but this feels like a fight too far. If Labour goes ahead with its proposed benefits cuts to tighten the eligibility criteria for personal independence payment (Pip) and reduce or lose the health element of universal credit, many people in my community don’t know how they will survive. Make no bones about it: this could be a matter of life and death for some people. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Disabled celebrities urge Keir Starmer to scrap ‘inhumane’ benefit cuts

Exclusive: More than 100 people including Liz Carr and Rosie Jones sign letter criticising Pip and universal credit changesMore than 100 of the UK’s most high-profile disabled people, including Liz Carr, Rosie Jones, Ruth Madeley and Cherylee Houston, have called on the prime minister to abandon “inhumane and catastrophic plans to cut disability benefits”.In an open letter to Keir Starmer before a planned Commons vote next month, they argue that the government’s plan to reduce eligibility to personal independence payment (Pip) and the health component of universal credit is a matter of “survival” and “basic human rights”. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago DWP PIP benefits £47 change will 'push people deeper into poverty', charity warns

The Work and Pensions Secretary said the Government is on the side of sick and disabled people

Events

2 w. ago Readers' Letters: Labour reforms will only harm disabled people's work prospects

The UK Government’s plan to slash disability benefits is just wrong, says reader

Politics