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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The moment when months of fear exploded into 'overwhelming relief' as activists heard MPs had defeated the assisted dying bill by 286 to 270 votes. One said the disabled-led campaign had been a 'David v Goliath' battle. Many said the real fight started now: for decent social and palliative care.

Disabled people cheering and applauding as they hold placards with slogans such as 'don't prescribe suicide', 'kill the bill not us', 'If in doubt vote no' and 'Assist us to live, not die'

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

“Devastating” and “punitive” tax changes to the #Motability scheme that will add hundreds of pounds to upfront payments to lease cars are “baffling” and “unjust” and threaten to “lock disabled people out of daily life”, say campaigners. #Budget2025 www.disabilitynewsservice.com/budgets-mota...

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 09/07/2025

I fear today's debates will pass without a mention of #DWPDeaths and the risk to thousands of disabled claimants of universal credit if this bill passes. So leaving this here from this morning in Westminster Hall, because MPs already have the evidence. #BinUCBill www.thedepartmentbook.com

John Pring looking grim-faced and holding his book The Department as he stands in a vast, ancient stone hall, with people milling in the background.

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

End of an era. The fantastic disabled cartoonist Dave Lupton - Crippen - is retiring (other than some pro bono work) after 50 years. A legend. Here's one of his classics from 1982 (with his permission). And descriptions of some of his favourites here: disabilityarts.online/resources/re...

A cartoon of a professor in a white coat pointing to a whiteboard which shows his lecture notes on 'how the handicapped can learn to cope and come to terms with being inferior to normal people'. Meanwhile a young, black wheelchair-user in a suit lifts up his lab coat while a disabled woman with red curly hair says: 'It's OK professor - it's just that he's never seen anyone talk out of their arse before!'

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

Here's proof that when ministers say they had to cut disability benefits cos 'welfare spending' was spiralling out of control, they are lying. Even before the cuts, it was stable. Q from LibDem @MartinWrigley, answer by minister @StephenCTimms: questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...

Table shows welfare spending as a percentage of GDP, both without the govt cuts announced last week, and with them. For welfare spending without the govt cuts, it shows: 10.9% in 2024-25, 10.9% in 2025-26, 11% in 2026-27, 10.9% in 2027-28, 10.8% in 2028-29 and 10.9% in 2029-30. With the cuts, it shows 10.9% in 2024-25, 10.9% in 2025-26, 11% in 2026-27, 10.8% in 2027-28, 10.7% in 2028-29, and 10.8% in 2029-30.

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

Discarded placards outside parliament at about 3.30pm this afternoon. But disabled activists I spoke to after the vote say the battle is not over. They have vowed to defeat the bill. As one activist told me: 'We keep fighting.' More from DNS next Thursday. #AssistUsToLive #AssistedDying

Five placards lying against a grimy grey wall, saying: 'The bill safeguards aren't safe', 'Two thirds of the public say sort out care first', 'NHS, it's cradle to grave, not til old, inconvenient or expensive', and 'first do no harm'. The words on the fifth are partly hidden.

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 02/10/2024

Back from covering the #Conservative conference in Birmingham. The stories of some of those who died due to the actions of #DWP and successive Tory governments are told in my book. I hope some of those responsible will read it. #TheDepartment #NoMoreBenefitDeaths buff.ly/4cJgDZo

A book is held up against the background of people milling about at the Conservative conference. At the top of the cover it says 'restricted - policy' but this is scribbled out. Then the title: ‘The Department: How a Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence’. The front cover looks like a memo that has been torn into three parts, scrunched up and pieced back together.

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 25/09/2024

Able to speak to a few MPs at #LabourConference about #TheDepartment and the years of deaths caused by #DWP. Great to hear @StephenCTimms plans to read it, and thanks to @RichardBurgon, such a great ally to disabled ppl. Plus supportive words from @ThurrockJen. @PlutoPress buff.ly/4cJgDZo

A hand holds a copy of a book with a sign saying 'Welcome to Labour Party Conference' in the background. At the top of the front cover it says 'restricted - policy' but this is scribbled out. Then the title: ‘The Department: How a Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence’. The front cover looks like a memo that has been torn into three parts, scrunched up and pieced back together.

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 20/09/2024

It's 1 month since #TheDepartment was published. I'm excited to say that @PlutoPress has already had to order a reprint as the sales have been so strong, while @Waterstones has ordered more copies thanks to high demand. Thanks for all your support so far. #NoMoreBenefitDeaths

A book, sitting against a plain background. At the top it says 'restricted - policy' but this is scribbled out. The title: ‘The Department: How a Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence’. It looks like a memo torn into 3 parts, scrunched up and pieced back together.

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 26/08/2024

The final stop on my journey to visit the families I have written about in The Department. Dave Smith, whose brother James Oliver was terminally ill but still didn't qualify for PIP, remembers 'the lies in the assessment report'. He wants an inquiry into deaths linked to DWP. buff.ly/4cJgDZo

Dave Smith sits on a leather sofa, holding a copy of The Department in one hand.

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 26/08/2024

'The violence is still there. We know it’s still there because people keep dying.' Me talking to Chris Browne from Pluto Press for a podcast about my new book, The Department. On all the usual platforms, including Spotify: buff.ly/3X1zglr Link here to a transcript: buff.ly/3YVuwjG

A copy of The Department: How a Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence, by John Pring. The cover is designed as a crumpled and torn up secret memo.

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 25/08/2024

My last-but-one visit to the families I have written about in The Department. Anne-Marie O'Sullivan has fought for the truth about her father's suicide for a decade. She says the secrecy of the 'toxic' #DWP 'prolonged our agony', costing '11 years of our lives'. buff.ly/4cJgDZo

Anne-Marie O'Sullivan sits on a sofa reading The Department

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 24/08/2024

Handed a copy of The Department to Mo Ahmed yesterday as we remembered his sister Faiza, who took her own life in 2014, hours after an interaction with a #DWP work coach. 'I'm glad I don't have to set foot in one of those places,' says Mo, a firefighter. buff.ly/4cJgDZo

Mo Ahmed sits on a bench in a park, holding a copy of The Department.

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 24/08/2024

With Gill Thompson as she became the first person pictured with The Department at #DWP HQ. So glad that, after more than a decade fighting for justice for her brother, David, July's election result meant some kind of closure for her. 'Political choices' killed him, she says. buff.ly/4cJgDZo

Gill Thompson stands outside the front entrance of the Department for Work and Pensions, next to a sign for the visitors entrance, and holding a copy of The Department.

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 23/08/2024

Jill Gant's son Mark starved to death after a work capability assessment led to his benefits being removed. She remembers the 'horror' of realising #DWP does not always seek vital medical evidence when deciding eligibility. It is 'wilful rejection of genuine need', she says. buff.ly/4cJgDZo

Jill Gant sits in an armchair, holding a copy of The Department: How a Violent Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 23/08/2024

I took a copy of #TheDepartment to Anabela, whose son took his own life 6 years ago. He was harassed to death by #DWP. After his death, his mum moved to be near the cemetery where he is buried. Asked what she would say to DWP now, she said: 'I would take them to the grave.' buff.ly/4cJgDZo

Anabela Sousa beside the grave of her son, which is covered and surrrounded with flowers and pictures. On the headstone is a cartoon image of a man with long, black curly hair raising his arm in the air, and an image of a computer mouse. It says: 'Roy Adrian Curtis/Ayman Habayeb, dearly missed, our shining star, a loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend. When it rains look for rainbows, when dark skies look for stars, in our hearts forever, July 1991 - November 2018.'

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 20/08/2024

Publication day for The Department. Yesterday I was in north-east Scotland with Sarah Carré. Her brother, Stephen, took his own life in 2010 and a coroner said this was triggered by being wrongly found fit for work by the flawed assessment. #DWP then covered up this evidence. buff.ly/4cJgDZo

A pair of hands holding a copy of The Department on a wooden kitchen table.

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 20/08/2024

Publication day for The Department. Yesterday, I was with David Barr in east Scotland. His son, David, died 11 years ago after being found fit for work due to a flawed assessment. His dad believes senior DWP figures should be held legally accountable. buff.ly/4cJgDZo

David Barr sitting in an armchair in the corner of a room, holding a copy of The Department.

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 19/08/2024

Yesterday I visited Joy Dove. Her daughter Jodey Whiting took her own life in 2017, days after her ESA was stopped by #DWP. Her story is part of my book, The Department. Joy has campaigned all these years: 'I would do it all again to get justice for her and all the others.' buff.ly/4cJgDZo

Joy Dove sits on a grey sofa holding a copy of The Department, looking determined

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 19/08/2024

The Department is out tomorrow so I'm visiting relatives of #DWP's victims who trusted me with their stories. This is Imogen Day, whose sister Pip died in 2019. A coroner later highlighted 28 separate “problems” with personal independence payment that helped cause Pip's death buff.ly/4cJgDZo

Imogen Day holds a copy of The Department while sitting outside at a red wooden table. Other people are in the background, as well as the words 'Don't break your tenderness', written on a wall.

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 18/08/2024

The Department is out this week, so I'm visiting relatives of #DWP's victims who trusted me with their stories. This is Peter Carré, whose son Stephen was an early victim of the work capability assessment. In 2015, Peter helped DNS expose the harm the WCA was causing. buff.ly/4cJgDZo

Peter Carré sitting in a wicker armchair in a conservatory, looking at the front cover of The Department.

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 18/08/2024

The Department is out this week, so I'm visiting the relatives of #DWP's victims who trusted me with their stories, to hand them a copy of the book. Alison is Errol Graham's daughter-in-law. Errol had cut himself off from his family. He starved to death after his benefits were withdrawn.

Picture shows Alison sitting in a wicker chair in a garden, in front of a hedge, holding a copy of The Department: How a Violent Government Bureaucracy Killed Hundreds and Hid the Evidence

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 31/07/2024

Next month, @PlutoPress is publishing The Department, my investigation into DWP's 30 years of bureaucratic violence. Activists have launched a crowdfunder to buy a copy for every #Labour MP. They need to know the harm DWP has caused, because Labour reforms are coming. buff.ly/3WNzoWQ

A wheelchair-user at a protest holds a banner saying 'benefit cuts are killing us' next to a sign for the Department for Work and Pensions

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Disability News Service @johnpring.bsky.social · 17/10/2023

Pleased to reveal the cover of The Department, my book for @plutobooks.bsky.social on how DWP's actions led to countless deaths in the post-2010 era. It’s the result of 10+ years of research. Publication next August. More details on Thursday. Thanks to Steve Leard for his powerful, striking design.

The UK Government coat of arms, featuring a lion, a unicorn and a crown, sits above the following words: ‘The Department. How a violent bureaucracy killed hundreds and hid the evidence. John Pring.’ It is written on white paper against a black background, but the paper is crinkled and at a slant and has been torn in three.

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