Mark That Disabled Green Party Guy

Following last week's observations of the Reform UK Ltd conference, I had hoped that there would be nothing to report from the Liberal Democrats conference as far as disability is concerned. How wrong was I? While at the conference their leader, Sir Ed Davey, stocked the fires of the hostile environment towards the sick and disabled, using tired old tropes and unsupported figures! See video For istance, Sir Ed, sounding very right wing himself, regurgitated the "fact" that there is widespread fraud by those claiming PIP (Personal Independence Payments) while talking with a radio broadcaster see video While fraud has seen an increase, from 0.0% to 0.4% which is approximately £1.2 billion, and is born out by the governments own 2025 figures. To put that in context, the welfare bill is £303.3 billion per year. Further comparison shows that tax fraud in the UK figures were £48.8 billion a year, and known tax evasion was £0.7 billion. So it would take a person on a...

Day 5 Summary of The Education Committee 48 Point Plan So let's start with the more positive aspects from The Parliamentary Education Committee's 48-point plan. It presents a comprehensive and positive vision for the future of SEND education, focusing on strengthening the current system rather than pursuing a disruptive overhaul. The plan is commendable for its unwavering commitment to protecting statutory entitlements for children, ensuring support is not contingent on a formal diagnosis. It ambitiously seeks to create a fairer, more consistent experience for every child by setting clear national standards for resources, expertise, and equipment in all schools, thereby promoting genuine inclusivity within mainstream education. Furthermore, the committee's recommendations are both practical and forward-thinking. Proposals to increase and inflation-proof funding, mandate specialised SEND training for headteachers, and embed robust accountability measures demonstr...

Day 4: Enhancing Post-16 Education and Health Support for SEND Key Committee Takeaways A new three-route model is proposed to replace the current GCSE resit policy, focusing on realistic pathways for students with SEND. Health services must prioritise SEND, ensuring accountability and collaboration with educational institutions. Parents and families should be actively involved in any reforms affecting their children's education and well-being. In the realm of post-16 education, there’s a significant shift being proposed regarding how students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) approach their GCSEs. The current policy requiring students to resit English and maths GCSEs is set to be replaced with a more flexible three-route model. This means that only those students who have a realistic chance of achieving a grade 4 will be supported to retake these qualifications. For those on vocational courses that include English and maths, they will be exempt from...

Day 3: Accountability and Early Intervention in SEND Education Key Committee Takeaways The committee stresses the importance of accountability in ensuring that schools meet the needs of students with SEND. Early intervention is crucial; support should be provided as soon as a need is identified, not just after an EHCP is in place. There is a recommendation for routine SEND screening in family hubs to enhance early identification of needs. Accountability is a major theme in the committee's recommendations. They are calling for a strong inspection framework that includes metrics on how well schools are supporting students with SEND. This means that schools should be evaluated not just on academic performance but also on how inclusive they are. Early intervention is another critical area. The committee believes that support should be available as soon as a child's needs are identified, rather than waiting for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) to be established. This proact...

Deaf Awareness Month I'm a lip reader 💋 A great lip reader can make it look effortless! I'm often told by people, they forget I'm deaf because I appear to keep up with conversations easily! But the truth is, it isn’t natural. It’s a skill, and an exhausting one. It can be learned and fine-tuned over time, but it doesn’t replace hearing. It’s an extra. An extra layer of effort. An extra demand on my attention. An extra task on top of everything else. What many don’t see is how draining it can be. Lipreading means constant focus, scanning faces, filling in the blanks, and staying diligent every second of the conversation. It can feel like running a marathon with your brain and your eyes, even during what looks like a simple social chat over coffee. The modern fad for men to have beards often gets in our way of lip reading. As does the habit of looking elsewhere while talking, (often down at your phone or people watching). Or, like my better half, who...

Day 2: Funding and Resources for SEND Support Key Committee Takeaways The committee urges the government to increase funding for SEND support in schools, adjusting it annually for inflation. There is a call for a comprehensive review of how funding is allocated to ensure it meets the actual needs of students. The need for specialised training for teachers and school leaders is emphasised to better support children with SEND. Funding is a significant concern when it comes to supporting students with SEND. The committee has recommended that the current funding threshold of £6,000 be adjusted each year to keep pace with inflation. This is crucial to prevent the erosion of support for these students. Moreover, there’s a pressing need for a thorough review of how funding is distributed across schools. The goal is to ensure that resources are allocated fairly and reflect the real needs of students. This means that schools should not only have the right amount of money but also th...

MP's Reveal a 48 Point Plan for SEND Education Helen Hayes Chair of the Committee With their plans finally revealed, we take a look at what the Education Committee has had to suggest.  It is very long winded, and burdened with corporate speech, so we will break it down into four manageable pieces over four days in a hope of not overwhelming you, and end with a summary on day five!  You can of course head to the bottom of this page, and click the link provided in the Fact Check section and read the Education Committee Report in full for yourself.  But for those not inclined to wade through the latest committee report, here is day one for you.  Day 1: Understanding the Need for Change in SEND Education Key Committee Takeaways The government must ensure that every school has the necessary resources and expertise to support students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). The committee emphasises the importance of maintaining statutory entitl...

The ongoing Timms Review, aimed at reforming the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), has become a focal point of concern for many in the disabled community. As the review struggles to establish its framework, the Labour government’s seemingly unchanged negative attitude towards the sick and disabled is becoming increasingly evident. Current Challenges in the Timms Review Stephen Timms, the Minister for Social Security and Disability, is facing significant hurdles in recruiting committee members for the review. Initially expected to comprise 12 members, including a co-chair from the Regional Stakeholders Network, the process has been delayed due to confusion over member selection and the overall direction of the review. This lack of clarity raises alarms about the government's commitment to genuinely involving disabled individuals in the decision-making process, which is crucial for building trust within the community.  A coalition of 17 organisations, including the Law...

Raising Awareness: Are Telford and Wrekin's SEND Services Failing Our Children? As parents of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in the Telford and Wrekin Borough Council area, it is crucial to reflect on the adequacy of the services provided to our children. Recent reports involving other councils, such as Stockton-on-Tees, have highlighted alarming failings in the management of Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCPs) - see Special Needs Jungle article: Lies Damned lies and Inadequate Fines These issues raise significant concerns about whether similar problems could be occurring right here in Telford and Wrekin. The Stockton-on-Tees Case: A Wake-Up Call In Stockton-on-Tees, a council was found to have sent misleading letters to nearly 100 families, falsely claiming that annual reviews of EHCPs had been conducted.  This deception resulted in children missing crucial educational opportunities and support, leading to severe distress for both the child...

Parents in Telford & Wrekin: are our SEND services truly serving our children?  Unsettling reports from other councils show EHCP mismanagement and misleading letters have been sent to parents and carers! Have our kids been supported adequately, here in Telford and Wrekin, or left in the dark?  Share experiences in confidencewith Mark Webster (Disability Officer, T&W Green Party) to help push for change.

A Concerned Look at Reform UK’s Conference September 2025 In a season already crowded with political fervor, Reform UK’s September 2025 Conference in Birmingham unfolded with moments that have left many observers profoundly unsettled.  Nigel Farage, the party’s leader, signaled a hard pivot toward aggressive welfare cuts , singling out disability benefits as a target and suggesting that “too many young people” are on disability benefits and that a substantial portion of those do not “genuinely deserve help.”  The tone was urgent, the rhetoric stark, and the implications for disabled people and their families were both immediate and troubling. Deep Concern I am writing this article with deep concern for the practical and moral consequences of Farage’s statements, and with a commitment to clarity about what is wrong with the framing, the evidence (or lack thereof) invoked, and the policy implications.  I also aim to offer a way forward that centers equality, dignity, and se...

Mandates of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities and the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Ref.: OL GBR 12/2025 (Please use this reference in your reply) 4 September 2025 Excellency, We have the honour to address you in our capacities as Special Rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities and Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, pursuant to Human Rights Council resolutions 53/14 and 53/10. In this connection, we would express the following concerns over the reform process related to health and disability benefits, including the “Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working” Green Paper and the Universal Credit Bill. We fear that this process may have put fiscal considerations before the duties of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland under the international human rights instruments it has ratified, with a disproportionate impact on the rights of persons with disa...