Nationwide Autistic Society accuses Farage of stigmatising disabled individuals – dwell | Politics
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Nationwide Autistic Society accuses Farage of stigmatising disabled individuals along with his ‘wildly inaccurate’ feedback about Ship
The Nationwide Autistic Society has described Nigel Farage’s feedback about Ship kids (see 12.09pm) as “wildly inaccurate” and accused him of perpetuating “stigma” and making life tougher for disabled individuals. Mel Merritt, head of coverage and campaigns on the NAS, stated:
Nigel Farage’s feedback are wildly inaccurate and present that he’s utterly out of contact with what autistic kids and adults should undergo to get a analysis or any assist in any respect.
For the document, completely nobody has bought an autism analysis by way of the GP – that is simply incorrect, flawed, pretend information.
Youngsters with Ship and disabled adults, together with autistic individuals, usually are not victims who’re being ‘over identified’. They’re individuals who face big delays and lengthy fights to get essentially the most fundamental assist throughout each side of their lives, together with analysis, schooling, well being and social care.
Spreading misinformation solely perpetuates stigma and makes life tougher.
We’re calling on all politicians to drop the political level scoring and rise up for his or her autistic and different disabled constituents.
Key occasions
Ursula von der Leyen, the European Fee president, is now talking on the power safety convention. Keir Starmer repeatedly harassed that he regarded her as a good friend as he launched her, and he or she spoke about him as a “expensive good friend”. The tone was by no means this chummy when the final authorities was in energy.
Farage’s feedback present Reform UK will axe Ship funding in the event that they take management of councils, Lib Dems say
The Liberal Democrats have stated that Nigel Farage’s feedback about particular educationa wants and disabilities (Ship) present what would occur to Ship if Reform UK wins management of councils. In a response to what Farage stated at his press convention this morning (see 12.09pm), Munira Wilson, the Lib Dem schooling spokesperson, stated:
Farage is clearly laying the groundwork to axe essential particular wants provision in councils he’s bought his eye on – communities the place households and susceptible younger persons are already ready years to entry threadbare particular wants funds and particular faculties bursting on the seams.
If Nigel Farage had spent any time talking to folks in his constituency, he’d know he’s barking up the flawed tree. The particular wants disaster wants pressing restore – not his lazy rhetoric. We’d like a Nationwide Physique for Ship to finish the particular wants postcode lottery now.
Starmer says authorities will make power ‘supply, not of vulnerability, however of power’
Keir Starmer is talking now on the power safety summit in London.
He says “for the reason that Seventies half of the UK recessions have been brought on by fossil gas shocks.”
What’s completely different now’s the federal government’s willpower to handle this, he says. He goes on:
So to the British individuals, I say this authorities is not going to sit again. We’ll step up. We’ll make power a supply, not of vulnerability, however of power.
We’ll defend our vital infrastructure, power networks and provide chains, and do no matter it takes to guard the safety of our individuals as a result of – that is the essential level – power safety is nationwide safety.
Scottish Tories urge Swinney to finish Sturgeon’s ‘period of divisive gender politics’
Russell Findlay, the Scottish Conservative chief, has urged the Scottish authorities to “finish the period of divisive gender politics” following final week’s supreme courtroom judgment on the definition of ladies in equality legislation.
Talking throughout first minister’s questions at Holyrood, Findlay stated:
John Swinney has bought an opportunity to be his personal man and go a special method from his closest ally [former first minister Nicola Sturgeon], who isn’t even displaying up for work anymore.
He can assure all public our bodies may have new and lawful insurance policies to respect girls’s rights in place by summer season.
He can admit that trans girls usually are not girls.
He might maintain his palms up and apologise absolutely and sincerely.
John Swinney might ditch Nicola Sturgeon’s poisonous legacy as soon as and for all.
Will he now take the possibility to lastly deliver to an finish the period of divisive gender politics?
In response, Swinney, the primary minister, quoted a former Tory MSP Alison Harris tellying Holyrood throughout a debate in 2018 that she was happy about an modification to the gender illustration on public boards (Scotland) invoice that, Harris stated, would “broaden the definition of ‘lady’ so the laws can be as inclusive as doable, recognising that not all trans girls possess a gender recognition certificates”.
Swinney stated he was quoting this to make the purpose that the Conservatives “have modified their place on this”. He went on:
What my authorities will do is what it all the time does, comply with the rule of legislation, take cautious account of the selections and the context during which we take our selections, and act correctly to guard the rights of all inside Scotland.
The primary responsibility of the federal government is to guard the rights of everybody in Scottish society.
Earlier Findlay stated, within the mild of the supreme courtroom ruling, Swinney ought to inform the Scottish jail service to ship all trans girls in femail jails to male prisons.
Swinney stated the federal government was contemplating how to answer the judgment, and that every one public our bodies would function throughout the legislation.
And these are from my Guardian colleague Frances Ryan on Bluesky on Nigel Farage’s feedback about individuals with particular academic wants and disabilities. (See 12.09pm.) Frances has simply printed Who Needs Regular? – The Disabled Women Information to Life, which I’ve not learn. However I’ve learn her earlier e book, Crippled, which is a strong account of how disabled individuals suffered through the austerity period – not least on account of politicians (like Farage) presenting them as bogus and undeserving.
Being disabled doesn’t make somebody “a sufferer”, Nigel Farage. Having state assist to go to high school doesn’t make somebody “a sufferer” both. These form of remarks are in some ways why I wrote Who Needs Regular? Disabled younger individuals deserve greater than this vile narrative.
I’m not going to get into the factual inaccuracies within the quote. That is about greater than fantasy registers or the longstanding GP fable. The issue is larger: it’s a politics and tradition that normalises the thought disabled individuals – even disabled kids – are burdens, worthless, and subnormal.
Nationwide Autistic Society accuses Farage of stigmatising disabled individuals along with his ‘wildly inaccurate’ feedback about Ship
The Nationwide Autistic Society has described Nigel Farage’s feedback about Ship kids (see 12.09pm) as “wildly inaccurate” and accused him of perpetuating “stigma” and making life tougher for disabled individuals. Mel Merritt, head of coverage and campaigns on the NAS, stated:
Nigel Farage’s feedback are wildly inaccurate and present that he’s utterly out of contact with what autistic kids and adults should undergo to get a analysis or any assist in any respect.
For the document, completely nobody has bought an autism analysis by way of the GP – that is simply incorrect, flawed, pretend information.
Youngsters with Ship and disabled adults, together with autistic individuals, usually are not victims who’re being ‘over identified’. They’re individuals who face big delays and lengthy fights to get essentially the most fundamental assist throughout each side of their lives, together with analysis, schooling, well being and social care.
Spreading misinformation solely perpetuates stigma and makes life tougher.
We’re calling on all politicians to drop the political level scoring and rise up for his or her autistic and different disabled constituents.
Lib Dems again ban on taking part in music and movies on public transport in England
As Peter Walker studies, the Liberal Democrats are proposing a ban on individuals taking part in music and movies out loud on their telephones on public transport.
My colleague John Harris, who’s selling his new e book about his autistic son, has had a go at Nigel Farage this morning (see 1.18pm), however he has applauded the Liberal Democrats for this proposal. As he explains in a submit on his Substack weblog, loud music in public areas generally is a massive reason behind stress or discomfort for some individuals with autism. Right here is an extract.
That is an thought mirrored within the precise legal guidelines and guidelines that function in different nations (The Guardian studies {that a} man was not too long ago fined €200 after making a telephone name on loudspeaker in a quiet space of Nantes station in France), and it additionally goes to the guts of autism consciousness and ignored elements of neurodivergence. I point out a few of these in my new e book: what some individuals name Sound Sensitivity is a psychological characteristic I’ve in frequent with my autistic son James, so I do know precisely what it means … and why the twenty first century cacophony of noise that usually erupts on trains and buses might be very dangerous information certainly.
Self-evidently, that is one massive a part of the sensory elements of neurodivergence. Right here’s absolutely the novices’ model, which took 5 seconds to search out through Google: “Sound sensitivity — often known as hyperacusis — is frequent in autistic individuals. Some noises may make you uncomfortable, particularly loud or shrill noises, however many individuals are delicate to quieter sounds, too…. These noises trigger undesirable intrusions that the individual can’t ignore… Hyperacusis could make it troublesome to exit in public as you may’t all the time predict what sounds you’ll encounter.”
In James’s case, these points are largely manageable (we simply get away from the supply of the noise, be it a hand-dryer, railway-station tannoy, leaf-blower or no matter). However on public transport, that often isn’t doable – and you probably have the form of cognitive make-up that results in Hyperacusis, that may be an enormous downside.
Nigel Farage claims too many kids are being assessed as having particular academic wants and disabilities. (See 12.09pm.) That’s not what mother and father of Ship kids would say. As this Guardian video explains, their expertise is that they need assistance and assist which too typically they’re failing to get.
UK cope with EU is not going to return to ‘arguments of the previous’, minister says
The UK’s new cope with the EU shall be a break from “debates and arguments of the previous,” the UK’s chief negotiator, Nick Thomas-Symonds, has stated, pledging that development can be the best precedence of the talks, Jessica Elgot studies.
Listed here are extra photos from Keir Starmer’s visits this morning.
These are from his tour of HMS Prince of Wales, the navy’s flagship plane service, which is in Plymouth, setting off on an eight-month deployment to the Indo-Pacific.
And that is from his go to to the Rolls Royce plant in Bristol.
Andrew Sparrow
John Harris, the Guardian columnist who has simply printed a unbelievable e book about his autistic son and their shared love of music, has posted this on Bluesky about Nigel Farage’s feedback about particular academic wants. (See 12.09pm.)
Farage speaking arrant and nasty shit right here. You may’t get an autism/SEND analysis from a GP. Individuals are having to attend years for one. That is simply Trump/Kennedy stuff, with a flavour of Badenoch & the proper wing UK media
Starmer says in a single day assaults on Kyiv are ‘reminder that Russia is the actual aggressor’
Moscow’s in a single day strikes on Kyiv are a “actual reminder that Russia is the aggressor”, Keir Starmer has stated.
Requested for his response to the assaults as he visited Rolls-Royce in Bristol, the prime minister informed broadcasters:
I feel it’s an actual reminder that Russia is the aggressor right here and that’s being felt by the Ukrainians, because it has been felt for 3 lengthy years now.
That’s why it’s essential to get Russia to an unconditional ceasefire.
Clearly, we had talks in London this week, Paris final week. We’re making progress in direction of the ceasefire. It’s bought to be an enduring ceasefire.
However these assaults – these terrible assaults – are an actual, human reminder of who’s the aggressor right here and the price to the Ukrainian individuals.
In the meantime, 150 new commerce sanctions towards Russia have been launched by the UK, the International Workplace has introduced. The ban impacts software program and know-how utilized in Russian defence and power sectors, together with banning online game controllers used to pilot drones on the frontlines in Ukraine.
International Workplace minister Stephen Doughty stated:
Putin thought he might use British markets to spice up his conflict effort, shopping for innocent items and turning them into instruments of conflict – however the UK is exposing and performing on this sinister commerce. Right this moment’s motion clamps down on Russia’s sneaky buying and selling and deprives Putin of the products he desperately must combat his barbaric conflict.
Chopping off Russia’s power revenues will drain Putin’s conflict chest – that’s why we’re shutting down the sale of subtle software program used to money in on new oil and fuel reserves, stopping UK experience from getting used to pour recent gas into Russia’s conflict machine.
We’re additionally banning outright online game controllers going to Russia, stopping them from getting used to pilot drones on the frontline, which means gaming consoles will now not be repurposed to kill in Ukraine.
And our powerful new measures will even degrade Russia’s navy machine – new export sanctions imply Putin will now not have the ability to get his palms on specialist know-how used to supply weaponry for his unlawful conflict.
Listed here are some extra feedback from Keir Starmer on defence spending from his go to to the Royal Navy’s flagship plane service, HMS Prince of Wales, in the present day:
The elevated defence spending is the best sustained improve for the reason that chilly conflict. That’s needed, needed for safety and our defence as a rustic, however actually essential that’s measured and felt in good, safe, properly paid jobs throughout the nation.
The south-west has a selected contribution. It’s due to the specialisms and the capabilities that it has. I simply need to say thanks to those that are concerned within the south-west as a result of numerous the potential you’re seeing onboard right here represents the onerous work of expert professionals in these jobs.
I would like SMEs, small firms within the provide chain, additionally to play their half. The south-west has my thanks and my gratitude to what they’re doing to assist the frontline, which we’re seeing displayed right here. I feel there’s additionally a component right here of creating certain that our service personnel have the amenities, the backup that they want, which is why I’m actually happy that we’ve been capable of take the measures we’ve got.
For instance, within the south-west on housing for our navy, to make it possible for there’s good, safe housing taking inventory again into public possession so we will present the type of backup that they deserve and that they’re entitled to. We’re already taking them again into public possession. These properties now shall be there for members of our navy.
That’s actually essential. A superb, safe dwelling, and that’s a part of the broader contribution.
In fact final 12 months there was the best pay award for our service personnel for a lot of, a few years, once more to symbolize the service they offer our nation, significantly presently of worldwide instability.
Talking onboard the HMS Prince of Wales in the present day, Keir Starmer informed broadcasters that the world was in a “new period” of worldwide insecurity and uncertainty.
The prime minister stated:
It’s unbelievable to be onboard the service strike group and to see the unbelievable functionality.
Everyone knows that the world is extra unsure than it felt just a few months or years earlier than – we’re in a brand new period.
That’s why we’ve doubled down on defence spending as a authorities, but in addition to come back and see strike group because it begins its journey, a very essential journey, bringing collectively 1000’s of personnel throughout the group from many alternative nations.
An actual assertion to our adversaries of UK management on world points and safety and defence, but in addition an actual present of unity with our allies, significantly our Nato allies that we’re working with.
It is a chance for me to say, as prime minister, thanks to the personnel on board doing difficult, expert, skilled, difficult work, to say thanks on behalf of the federal government, but in addition thanks on behalf of the nation, for hundreds of thousands of people that would like to be right here to say thanks to the very many people who find themselves concerned on this endeavour.
Prime minister Keir Starmer informed broadcasters onboard the Royal Navy’s flagship plane service, HMS Prince of Wales, that it was “massively essential” the UK performed a task in world safety.
“It’s massively essential for the UK to play a number one function, as we’re taking part in on this deployment,” Starmer stated.
The PA information company studies that Starmer stated:
It exhibits {our capability}, it exhibits our sense of worldwide management on defence and safety, but in addition on commerce and the economic system – we’re a free buying and selling nation.
This can be a mission that’s going to go throughout your entire world, all the way down to the Indo-Pacific as properly.
It’s a UK sense of our management and a message to our adversaries but in addition an essential UK message to our allies about the best way that we work with our allies in what we do in our defence and safety.
I’m very happy with what all of the groups are doing right here.
Wooden-burning stoves to be allowed in new-build properties in England regardless of considerations
Helena Horton
Wooden-burning stoves shall be allowed to warmth new-build properties in England regardless of rising proof displaying their important contribution to air air pollution and carbon emissions.
The federal government is writing its Future Properties Requirements, a algorithm for builders geared toward decarbonising England’s housing inventory. Heating the UK’s 28m properties accounts for about 18% of greenhouse fuel emissions.
Nonetheless, there are fears that after intense lobbying, these requirements shall be weakened. The Guardian not too long ago reported that the Labour celebration is contemplating making photo voltaic panels non-compulsory on new properties in England after strain from housebuilders.
The Range Trade Affiliation (SIA) has launched a letter it obtained from authorities confirming the home equipment shall be allowed in new properties.
It reads:
A full technical session on the Future Properties Customary was launched in December 2023 and closed in March 2024. Below the requirements proposed within the session, a wood-burning range can be permitted as a secondary heating supply in new properties.
The Local weather Change Committee has advisable the phasing out of wood-burning stoves in properties due to the carbon they emit. In addition they produce harmful PM2.5 particles that, in accordance with a rising physique of analysis, are answerable for a variety of well being issues together with coronary heart and lung illness, in addition to diabetes, most cancers, mind perform and untimely births.
Final 12 months, a research by Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, discovered that even “eco-design” wood-burning stoves produced 450 occasions extra poisonous air air pollution than fuel central heating.
Farage claims docs ‘massively over-diagnosing’ kids with Ship and psychological well being circumstances
Andrew Sparrow
Nigel Farage has claimed that docs are “massively over-diagnosing” kids with particular academic wants and disabilities (Ship) and psychological well being circumstances.
Requested at this press convention in regards to the rising variety of kids identified with Ship, and what may very well be completed to assist them, Farage replied:
It’s an enormous downside. I’ve to say, for my very own cash, if you get to 18 and you place someone on a incapacity register, unemployed, with a excessive stage of advantages, you’re telling individuals aged 18 that they’re that they’re victims. And if you’re informed you’re a sufferer, and also you suppose you’re a sufferer, you might be more likely to keep [a victim].
So many of those diagnoses, for Ship earlier than 18, for incapacity register after 18 – so many of those have been performed on Zoom, with the household GP.
I feel that may be a large mistake. I feel you’re the household GP, and I’ve know your loved ones for generations, and also you’re saying to me there’s an actual downside right here with melancholy, or no matter it might be, it’s fairly onerous for me as your GP to say no.
I don’t suppose any of those allocations needs to be completed by household GPs. I feel needs to be completed independently.
And I feel we’re massively – I’m not being heartless, I’m being frank – I feel we’re massively over-diagnosing these with psychological sickness issues and people with different basic behavioural disabilities. And I feel we’re creating class of victims in Britain that may wrestle ever to get out of it.
My colleague Amy Sedghi is taking on for some time now. I shall be again later.
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