Op-Eds

Here is where you will find my many opinion pieces on everything from disability rights to feminism. most recent articles are first

2023

The Daily Mirror: It’s harder to feel Pride as a disabled queer woman

The Daily Mirror: Closing train station ticket offices will stop disabled people from travelling safely

The Daily Mirror: DWP crowing about extra disabled cost of living payment – but it barely scratches surface

The Daily Mirror: ‘Tories laughed behind our backs during lockdown – we wont let them forget’

The Daily Mirror: ‘The media’s dangerous portrayal of disability fakers has real-life consequences’

Cosmopolitan UK: When is reality TV going to catch up with reality?

The Daily Mirror: Scope says the media must stop ‘destructive disability narrative’ – and I agree

The Daily Mirror: Thousands heading into bank holiday without GP care due to system failures

The Daily Mirror: DWP still pushing dangerous ‘benefit fraud crackdown’

The Daily Mirror: It’s vital we teach the next generation about disability history

Glamour: Dangerous coverage of ADHD means women like me don’t feel like we can ask for help

The Daily Mirror: We’re aware of the mental health crisis, we need government support

The Big Issue: The DWP is pushing the benefit fraud narrative but disabled people know where the real problem lies

The Daily Mirror: Disability aids are freedom, they shouldn’t be a source of shame

The Daily Mirror: The Coronation was an attempt to appease struggling class – we can’t let it be

The Daily Mirror: DWP benefit fraud raids are trying to make us forget who the real enemy is

The Daily Mirror: Voter ID will lock out many at-risk people – we can’t let it

Labour blames disability benefits fraud and error for lack of Cost of Living Support – but they’re demonising the wrong people 

A Kind of Spark’s reception shows how important authentic disabled representation is for The Daily Mirror, April 23

NHS covid app closing next month, but pandemic is far from over for disabled people for The Daily Mirror, March 23

Met Report shows shocking discrimination – but disregard for ableism isn’t a surprise for The Daily Mirror, March 23

Lockdown files show how the Government let disabled people die for The Daily Mirror, March 23

Employers need to do more than just celebrate neurodiversity for The Unwritten, March 23

Where are the different types of disabled women this IWD? for The Daily Mirror, March 23

Therese Coffey says “work more” – but many disabled people don’t have that option for The Daily Mirror, February 23

Press Regulator must create guidelines for reporting disability – or the media will never become less ableist for The Daily Mirror, February 23

Disabled people are missing out on the government’s cost of living payments for The Big Issue, February 23

Disabled people deserve to be able to find books about us easily in bookshops for The Daily Mirror, February 23

No one should have to ask whether they can ‘do without’ medication for The Big Issue, February 23

I’m not here to write want the government wants for The Daily Mirror, February 23

IPSO Told me Nobody Complains About the UK Media’s Ableism- so Let’s Prove Them Wrong for The Unwritten, February 23

I’m a disabled person not a person with a disability for The Daily Mirror, January 23

North East has most disabled people but is ignored into extinction by Tories for The Daily Mirror, January 23

The High Court ruling on legacy benefits is a bitter blow for disabled people for The Big Issue, January 23

DWP refuse to release reports on disabled deaths amid inhumane assessment system for The Daily Mirror, January 23

Labour’s plan for disabled people is the same as Tories – to push us into work for The Daily Mirror, January 23

It’s time the government stepped up to help disabled people in the cost of living crisis for The Big Issue, January ’23

DWP should have some clear resolutions and goals to help disabled people in 2023 for The Daily Mirror, January ’23

2022

14 Ways the Tories shafted disabled people in 2022 for The Daily Mirror, December 22

Delay in the National Resilience Strategy terrifying for disabled people The Daily Mirror, December 22

Government’s treatment of disabled people at Christmas is frankly Dickensian for The Daily Mirror, December 22

Way disabled people are treated in The Traitors shows ableist attitudes are still alive for The Daily Mirror, December 22

Nothing disables me more than society’s attitude towards disabled people for The Daily Mirror, December 22

As a pro-choice, disabled woman, I’m torn over why late terminations are legal if the foetus is potentially disabled for Glamour, November 22

Disabled Brits live in fear of rolling winter blackouts as ministers won’t promise help for The Daily Mirror, November 22

The Destruction of Twitter Is Disastrous for Disabled People for Verywell Health, November 22

Jeremy Hunt vows to protect disabled people – but those who can’t work suffer again for The Daily Mirror, November 22

Matt Hancock doesn’t get to use his dyslexia to redeem himself in the jungle for The Daily Mirror, November 22

Disabled workers earn £3,700 less each year – the government must close the wage gap for The Daily Mirror, November 22

Disabled people having their benefits cut while in hospital shows Tory cruelty for The Daily Mirror, November 22

Matt Hancock Going on I’m a Celeb is a Kick in the Teeth for Disabled People for The Daily Mirror, November 22

Purple Tuesday Needs to Show Real Commitment to Disabled People for The Daily Mirror, November 22

Disabled People Number Nearly 14 Million in the UK – They Deserve Their own Minister for The Daily Mirror, October 22

Disabled People Have Been Ignored by Rishi Sunak and They Will die This Winter for The Daily Mirror, October 22

The Treatment of Fetterman Shows Why There Are So Few Disabled Officials for Verywell Health, October 22

The Tories Will Never Have to “Get It” for The Daily Mirror, October 22

The State Of This: How Much is the New PM Going to Screw Disabled People? (with Cath Poucher) for The Unwritten, September 22

The Tories are Gambling with Disabled Lives via a Loophole – We Can’t let Them get Away With it for The Daily Mirror, August 22

We Deserve to Know What the DWP is Hiding About Benefits for The Independent, August 22

Rishi Sunak’s NHS No-Show Fines Are a Direct Attack on Disabled People for The Spill, August 22

Rishi Sunak’s £10 Fine for Missing GP Appointments Will Penalise Disabled People for The Daily Mirror, August 22

You Don’t Have to Like Being Disabled to be Proud of it for Verywell Health, July 22

Assuming Someone is Faking a Disability is Discriminatory and Offensive for The Daily Mirror, July 22

Disabled People Don’t Need Your Outrage – we Need you to Fight With us for Change for The Guardian, July 22

It’s Hard to get out of “Work Mode” When it’s Your Life – but I’m Trying for The Unwritten, June 22

Twitter Means Too Much to Disabled People to Abandon for The Spill, May 22

The Queen Shouldn’t be Scared of Being Seen in a Wheelchair for Metro UK, March 22

‘It’s Just a Cold’ Doesn’t Mean It’s Not Serious for Verywell Health, March 22

IWD2022: Disabled women have to be strong all year. We want to be soft too for The iPaper, March 22

Why Can’t We Just Let the Queen Rest? for Verywell Health, February 22

The End of Free LFTs is Terrifying for Vulnerable and Disabled People for The Flock, February 22

Lifting COVID-19 Restrictions in England Puts Disabled People in Danger for Verywell Health, February 22

How Pam And Tommy Exploits Pamela Anderson All Over Again for Whynow, February 22

Ending masks and isolation will kill vulnerable people for The New Statesman, January 22

Op-Ed: Disabled People Can’t Learn to Live With COVID for Verywell Health, January ’22

2021

Disabled People Feel Left out of U.K. COVID-19 Plans—Again for Verywell Health, December 21

It’s OK to Prioritize Your Health Over Socializing During the Holidays for Verywell Health, December 21

Unvaccinated People Are Not Oppressed—They’re Dangerous for Verywell Health, November 21

Ableism at COP26 Shows Disabled People Are Still an Afterthought for Verywell Health, November 21

Why “Invisible Disabilities” are Anything but Invisible for Verywell Health, October 21

It’s Unacceptable That Disabled People Still Can’t Access COVID Vaccines for Verywell Health, October 21

I spent 15 Years in Pain – Here’s What I Learned About the Gender Pain gap, for Verywell Health, October 21

It’s Ableist to Cut Pay of Work-From-Home Employees for Verywell Health, October 21

Living With Undiagnosed Chronic Pain Is Hard, But Please Don’t Give Up for Healthline, August 21

This Is Not Freedom Day for Vulnerable Disabled People Like Me for The Spill, July 21

Surprise, I’m a Disabled Person for The Unwritten, July 21

Give The ‘NHS Rainbow’ Back To The LGBT Community for HuffPost, April 21

Line of Duty’s treatment of Terry shows how common ableism is for Metro UK, April 21

A Love Letter to the Undiagnosed for The Endometriosis Foundation, March 21

It’s Okay If Women Don’t Want To Share Their Trauma for Huffpost UK, March 21

It’s Not Okay to Ask Why Someone is Getting The Vaccine for Huffpost, March 21

Please Stop Killing Us for The Unwritten, February 21

Ruth Madeley’s appearance on Celebrity Best Home Cook fills a major gap in disabled visibility for Digital Spy, January 21

Working From Home Levels the Playing Field for Disabled People. Why are Businesses so Intent on Returning to the Office? For Rooted in Rights, January 21

2020

New lockdown restrictions are forcing disabled people to make a choice between health and career for The Independent, November 20

After disabled people were left to die, I’m terrified of a second Coronavirus wave for Metro UK, November 20

Until TV starts showing chronic pain accurately, I fear people will think I’m faking it for Metro UK, October 20

Disabled People Are Anxious About Returning To Work. Do Not Forget Us for HuffPost, September 20

I Could Only Embrace Being a Writer After I Got Sober for The Temper, September 20

Why I Go To Hospital Appointments Alone for Stylist, July 20

Will I be Left to Die in a Second Coronavirus wave? for The Doe (anon), June 20

To my post-menopausal body… I’ve learnt to love you for your resilience for Metro UK, June 20

J.K. Rowling’s Attack on the Trans Community Was Deplorable, but So Was Glorifying Her Abuser for WMC Fbomb, June 20

JK Rowling Doesn’t Speak for Abuse Survivors for HuffPost, June 20

We Cannot Neglect the Health Needs of Chronically Ill and Disabled People During the Pandemic for Rooted in Rights, May 20

Please don’t hoard Hydroxychloroquine because Trump claims it cures Covid-19 for Metro UK, May 20

It Shouldn’t Be Dangerous To Share Disabled Experiences Online for Rooted in Rights, May 20

Why Chronically Ill And Disabled People Are Furious About Coronavirus for Folks at Pillpack, March 20

I Chose to have a hysterectomy, but it still hurts that I can’t have children, for Metro UK, March ’20

As A Recovering Alcoholic I Found Watching Love Is Blind Uncomfortable for Metro UK, March 20

When Someone Says They Are Disabled, Believe Them for Folks at Pillpack, February 20

Doctor Who Has Always Been Political for Digital Spy, January 20

2019

How My Dog Brought Me Closer To My Neighbours for Stylist, December 19

The DWP Christmas Bonus Is An Insult To Disabled People for Metro UK December 19

How Can I Be Visibly Bisexual? for Diva Magazine, December 19

How Getting A Puppy Saved My Mental Health for Folks at Pillpack, September 19

What Queer Eye Got Wrong About Disability for Folks at Pillpack August 19

Even In Game Of Thrones’ Fantasy World Disabled People Aren’t Good Enough for Metro UK,  May ’19

My Extreme Periods Drove Me To A Hysterectomy – I Resent Not Being Taught What Was ‘Normal’ for Metro UK, March 19

Why Cast Bryan Cranston As A Quadriplegic Man When Disabled Actors Are Queuing Up For Roles? for Metro UK, January 19

2018 and Earlier

I Spoke Up and Got Help With My Mental Health – But The NHS Failed Me for iNews, September 18

Doctor Who’s dyspraxic character Ryan marks the first time I’ve seen my disability represented properly on TV for iNews, October 18

My Lupus Diagnosis Could’ve Come A Lot Sooner If Doctors Had Believed Me For Metro UK, May 18

How Chronic Illness And Mental Health Are Inextricably Linked For Metro UK, May 18

An Open Letter to my Depression for Metro UK, September ’17 MENTAL HEALTH

I Didn’t Realise I Could Be Bisexual Until I was 22 – Here’s Why for Metro UK, August ’17 SEX AND REL

Why a Female Doctor Really Matters to Young Girls for Metro UK, July 17

Why Are Men Suddenly Driving The Handmaid’s Tale? for Metro UK, July 17

It’s Okay To Not Want To ‘Keep Calm And Carry On’ for iNews, June 17

How the LGBT+ Community Stigmatises Bisexuality for The Queerness, April 17

The Finality of Hysterectomy for Ask Me About My Uterus, January 17

I’m 27 And Want a Hysterectomy. No, I’m Not Naive. for Ask Me About My Uterus, August 16

You’re My Thinspo for Femsplain, June 16