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Ian Birrell

Columnist & Foreign Correspondent

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Disability / Policy / Social care / Welfare

People with learning disabilities need ministers’ support

Published by The Times (30th April, 2024) There is a valid debate to be had over disability benefits after a sudden surge in claimants with anxiety and depression. […]

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Health / Policy

Inside Britain’s psychiatric nightmare

Published by UnHerd (2nd August, 2022) There were still grim Victorian-era asylums dotted around Britain when Penelope Campling started out as a young psychiatrist almost 40 years ago. […]

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Health / Policy / Politics / Social care

A refreshing prescription for the NHS – and for politics

Published by The i paper (16th May, 2022) Jeremy Hunt does not hide his ambition, admitting that he does not rule out another tilt at the top job […]

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Health / Policy

Another death, this time a friend’s son, highlights the need for an urgent review of psychiatric services

Published by The i paper (2nd May, 2022) More than three decades ago I joined The Sunday Times in the wake of the Wapping dispute, which broke the stranglehold of […]

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Belgium / Disability / Europe / Holland

Who should decide when we die?

Published by The i paper (28th September, 2020) Yew Trees was called a hospital but sounds more like hell. It was supposed to be a sanctuary for women […]

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Covid19 / Disability / Health / Policy / Politics / Social care

A grave threat to vulnerable people

Published by The i paper (23rd March, 2020) Six years ago I landed in Liberia. My temperature was taken after leaving the plane, then I walked through an […]

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Drugs / Policy / United States / World

A progressive cesspit

Published by The Mail on Sunday (2nd February, 2020) Gilles Desaulniers moved to San Francisco 40 years ago, settling in the ‘friendly, quaint and affordable’ city after running […]

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Disability / Health / Policy

Why are we locking up patients for profit?

Published by UnHerd (15th January, 2020) Claire Greaves was a young woman with anorexia and a personality disorder. She spoke candidly and courageously to broadcasters about her struggles; on […]

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Europe / Health / Italy / Policy

The country that closed its psychiatric hospitals

Published by Tortoise (17th December, 2019) Elisabetta Paci spent a year planning to take her own life after deciding her departure from the world would be best for […]

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Health / Policy

NHS for sale? Too late for many mental health services

Published by The i paper (2nd December, 2019) For much of the time it has seemed only two issues are at stake in this depressing election campaign. The […]

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Crime / Policy / Politics

Our prisons are a national disgrace

Published by UnHerd (2nd December, 2019) In 1773, a wealthy businessman named John Howard, appointed High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, was distressed to discover the barbaric treatment of inmates […]

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Belgium / Europe / Health / Policy

Kelly is in good physical health. So why is she fighting for the right to die – aged 23?

Published by The Mail on Sunday (13th October, 2019) Kelly is 23 years old. She is a bright and thoughtful young woman with an attractive smile that flits […]

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Ian Birrell is an award-winning columnist, foreign correspondent, feature writer and investigative journalist. He is contributing editor of The Mail on Sunday, a weekly columnist in The i Paper and writes frequently for other papers and platforms. He is also co-founder with Damon Albarn of Africa Express, the acclaimed collaborative music project. (Pictured: Talking to refugees in Iraq fleeing Islamic State)... Read More.

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