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francesryan.bsky.social
Guardian columnist and journalist. Commentator of the Year 2024. Author of Who Wants Normal? and Crippled. E: [email protected]
1,249 posts 27,587 followers 114 following
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Former Conservative and UKIP MP and Boris Johnson government appointee here calling for the mass deportation of British Pakistanis Islamophobia is absolutely rampant in conservative politics now and almost nobody even acknowledges it

submitted 13 hours ago • 66 comments

As MPs vote on whether to decriminalise abortion after more than 150 years, here’s this week’s column setting out why it should be a “yes.” www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

submitted 14 hours ago • 2 comments

At least 51 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza waiting for food trucks. Israeli forces also injured 200 people after opening fire on the crowd. “It was a massacre,” one witness said, adding the soldiers continued firing on people as they fled from the area. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

submitted 23 hours ago • 5 comments

There are few things more disgusting than watching the far right and their mainstream cheerleaders use grooming victims for their racist ends. These people have never cared about rape or misogyny in their lives - indeed, they excuse it - and listening to them fake it is genuinely grotesque.

submitted 1 day ago • 7 comments

This week, MPs will vote on whether to decriminalise abortion in England and Wales. As the police issue guidance to search women’s homes for abortion drugs and seize phones to inspect menstrual tracker apps, I wrote about why reform is more vital now than ever. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

submitted 1 day ago • 5 comments

A lovely write up of British Vogue’s ‘Women Defining Britain in 2025’ in today’s Guardian. Thanks @michaelsavage.bsky.social As I said: “I’m really touched and I hope it’s another step in the climb to see many more women that look like me (and a lot that don’t).” www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

submitted 1 day ago • 5 comments

British women are being jailed and shamed under archaic abortion laws. After more than a century and a half, this week, MPs could vote to change that. My col. on decriminalising abortion - and giving tens of millions of women a genuine right to choose. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

submitted 1 day ago • 7 comments

I’ve been wrestling ‘women shouldn’t feel obliged to massage men’s feelings’ v ‘people shouldn’t humiliate others’ - and decided it’s just mean to give someone an embarrassingly bad review in the press when they were clearly a nice bloke. A sympathy 6 at least! www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

submitted 3 days ago • 11 comments

A total (and surreal) honour to be named on the Vogue 25: the Women Defining Britain in 2025. Thank you, British Vogue.

submitted 4 days ago • 7 comments

Liz Kendall is set to offer an “olive branch” on disability benefit cut plans to avert a Labour rebellion. The Guardian has been told of “non-negotiable” protections for “the most vulnerable”, providing additional support to those with the most severe conditions. www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

submitted 5 days ago • 13 comments

My first book, Crippled: Austerity and the Demonisation of Disabled People, has been out 6 years today. As more disability cuts hit, I’m gutted it’s still so bloody relevant - but continually grateful for everyone still buying it, teaching it, and sharing it. All formats here: tinyurl.com/4e6pzx2f

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

It’s great to see investment in the NHS, social housing, and free school meals. But it makes no sense to cut disability benefits at the same time. Making disabled people sicker and poorer will only increase pressure on the NHS, push them out of independent homes, and deprive their children.

submitted 6 days ago • 9 comments

Very disquieting to see Rachel Reeves announce good policies. £39bn for social and affordable housing? Charities and orgs calling it a once in a generation move to tackle the housing crisis? What is happening! www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

submitted 6 days ago • 10 comments

Rough sleeping is to be decriminalised in England and Wales after 200 years. Labour will repeal the Vagrancy Act 1824 to ensure rough sleeping is no longer a criminal offence. It comes alongside an extra £233 million in funding for homeless services, taking the total this year to nearly £1 billion.

submitted 6 days ago • 23 comments

PSA: If you don’t have Disney+ and love a good TV show with bonus disability representation, Shardlake is having its terrestrial premier tonight at 9pm on ITV.

submitted 8 days ago • 4 comments

Lovely to get my copy of Able mag. It was great to chat about Who Wants Normal? for the June edition. We spoke about growing up as the only disabled person in the room, interviewing 50+ of Britain’s best known disabled women, and finding hope in shitty times. Out now.

submitted 8 days ago • 1 comment

Good on @turn2us.org.uk for putting together a guide for journalists reporting on the benefits system. With the PIP vote coming up, there’s no excuse for the media to use inaccurate or stigmatising language.

submitted 8 days ago • 10 comments

Nearly half a million people in disabled households will be forced into severe hardship if the disability benefit cuts go ahead, new research by @trusselluk.bsky.social shows. No MP who votes for this can pretend they don’t know. www.trussell.org.uk/news-and-res...

submitted 8 days ago • 6 comments