9 January 2012

Report finds government misled parliament over opposition to disability living allowance reform, and Spartacus Network is launched.

What: Research by disabled campaigners finds that there was “overwhelming opposition in the consultation responses to nearly all of the government’s proposals for DLA reform” and that the government had used inaccurate figures to exaggerate the rise in DLA claimants. Writing this report led to the creation of the Spartacus Network – a group of disabled and chronically ill people across the country who research issues relating to disability and social security.

Why significant: The government would repeatedly claim that its DLA/PIP reforms were aided and supported by disability organisations and that it was “working closely” with disabled people on its reforms. The concerns about the new assessment would prove to be well founded.