New Green Paper Discussion - now includes accessible formats and consultation event sign up links!
Comments
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AR "The problem with clinging onto a past policy that was harmful but long since over is that we might accidentally miss a current policy that is even more harmful."
The whole point of me "going on" about this is that it's far from over nor is it in the past!
OMG this is so hard. None of these proposals or changes affect me because I've already been scr*wed over so why would I make anything up?? I'm certainly not doing this for fun.
I also didn't vote for Labour as it's a safe seat and because my MP lied to me years ago about the ESA regulations. I really don't understand how people think this crisis began last May. Baffling!
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IDS deceived Parliament (and us) and dozens of sitting MP's on all sides of the House know how he did it. He thinks he got away with it.
Starmer's resignation would not change a thing so it's a huge mistake to waste precious time blaming him instead of those Cabinet Ministers responsible for this treachery!
It's also a mistake to believe that Debbie Abrahams cares any more about disabled people than her predecessor did as Chair of the W&P Select Committee.
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That reform proposal on paper looks incredibly mild compared to both the Tories and Labour.
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You're completely wrong to claim the 2011 ESA changes were not challenged or that the DWP got away with it. The truth is, those changes were fought and they were found unlawful. Not just once, but through multiple legal battles over several years.
In 2013, the Court of Appeal ruled in R (MM & DM) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2013] EWCA Civ 1565 that the DWP’s Work Capability Assessment discriminated against people with mental health conditions. Judges found it broke the Equality Act 2010 by failing to make reasonable adjustments, such as relying on medical evidence rather than expecting vulnerable claimants to self-report. The court also condemned the DWP for only counting "good days" while ignoring how serious fluctuating conditions actually are.
The DWP did not fix it. In fact, they ignored it. That led to another major defeat in 2019, when the Supreme Court, in Secretary of State for Work and Pensions v MM (Scotland) [2019] UKSC 34, ruled that the DWP was still applying an unlawful, narrow and technical approach in assessments. The discrimination continued despite earlier court findings.
Then came Connor v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2020] EWHC 1999 (Admin). The High Court ruled that the DWP’s mandatory reconsideration policy, used to delay benefit payments during appeals, was a breach of disabled claimants’ rights under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. That is three separate courts, over seven years, all confirming that the DWP’s approach was unlawful.
This proves beyond doubt that the system was not just challenged but exposed, repeatedly, as discriminatory and unjust. The issue now is not whether the 2011 ESA reforms were understood, but that the DWP chose to ignore the law. They have since copied those same illegal tactics into PIP, including the upcoming 4-point rule set for November 2026, which is projected to cut thousands of disabled people off support.
So no, we are not wasting time by fighting what is happening now. The real mistake would be pretending we need to go back and re-litigate 2011. We already fought that fight and won. The law is on our side. The DWP simply refuses to follow it.
This is not about Starmer, Abrahams, or individual MPs. It is about holding a department accountable for repeatedly breaking the law and hoping no one notices. What is needed now is public pressure to enforce the rulings already handed down, not to rewrite history.
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Where is the chart? we dont see it, please provide a link if there is a chart there.
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Ultimately IDS isnt in power right now. What is in the green paper is Labour's responsibility even if it was pre planned in some cross party agreement a decade ago.
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This is frightening me to death and negatively impacting my mental health in a huge way. I’m scared in 2027 of losing my PIP, I could be over £6,000 worse off which will force me into debt, maybe lose my independence and forced into supported living, maybe a mental health unit or even worse an early grave. If I do go into an early grave, at least my funeral will be covered. The Labour government are absolute charlatans big time!! They are making us the victims and also the pariah of not only there budget reform for benefits but also failures of successive governments. I’m not gonna lie, it is keeping me awake at night and certainly making me not want to leave the flat and just shut the world out big time. I’m fighting every second of the day not to scratch my hands and arms raw, I sit with a fidget cube and also an Autism Highland Coo. It’s just the same muck, different government, looking after the people that don’t pay taxes and are worth in there millions and billions. I’ve just got no faith in society or humanity. Other than leaving for a dentist appointment in a few weeks and a GP appointment the week after, don’t see myself leaving here for a long time to come 😔 the fight to keep going gets harder the more boots are pressed on our throats. If I only get ESA and UC I honestly do not know how I’m going to maintain my tenancy let alone my bills or put food in my mouth. There is nothing great about Britain anymore. Push comes to shove, I’ll serve notice, pack all my camping gear and disappear into the middle of Scotland where nobody can find me.
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@Catherine21 Totally hear you……But This Labour government isn’t just out of touch- They’re like a spreading cancer: cold, relentless, and heartless.I didn’t vote for them, but I genuinely feel for those who did -unknowingly handing their vote the DEVIL.
It honestly feels like they’re on a mission to silence, sideline, and push disabled people off the map
Well, good luck to them-Because we’re not going anywhere.We won’t be silenced. We won’t be sidelined.We will fight these benefit cutsDisabled voices and Lives matter.
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Many MPs do support Starmer, yes-but I’m not sure all of their views are morally aligned when it comes to opposing the cuts. The Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) website has a list of MPs who support or do not support the cuts, which might be helpful.
Even if you don’t get responses from your MP, please do keep sending direct emails.
By the way, Scope Admin informed me that 94 MPs attended the Scope parliamentary event.There’s a post about this on our Scope “Get Your MP to Respond” thread. I felt it was a significant turnout and gives us hope that our efforts are making an impact.
If you’d like to find out whether your MP attended, you can email: campaigns@scope.org.uk. I reached out myself, and unfortunately, my MP did not attend.
Let’s continue to support each other and keep raising our voices.
Disabled voices and lives matter.
In solidarity ✊0 -
Labour panic as 80 MPs at risk of losing seats at next election over welfare cuts!
That's not enough to throw Keir Starmer and his culprits into panic.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14607469/Keir-Starmer-warned-80-Labour-MPs-lose-seats-majorities-smaller-number-constituents-set-disability-benefits-cut.html
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ALL UNPAID CARERS:
Carers UK is currently gathering evidence from unpaid carers, and organisations supporting carers, about the impact of the Government’s plans to reform the benefits system. This includes launching a survey to capture carers’ views, which will inform our response to Government and our campaigning. The survey will be open until 30 April. To take part, our survey.
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On benefits and work, A letter someone posted, who also sent to Stephen Timms
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MW, it's clear to me that we're talking about different aspects of those 2011 'amendments'!
I'm referring to a sleight of hand which Chris Grayling had the sense to remove himself from, after signing off that policy. Nobody has ever challenged this and it's why IDS is back for more of the same only much, much worse.
So, it is vital that we catch up with something we all missed back then, yes!!
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Have you realised that it is possible for someone to be currently receiving enhanced PIP, from 3 points per activity, but lose entitlement completely due to the new 4 point rule ?
This proves that the new rule is totally unfair and cannot be allowed to be brought in.
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Wow - what a superb letter
Also see
It says everything that many of us here feel about the situation
The sad thing is that Timms may read it but it will make absolutely no difference in what happens…
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He should resign. He is a disgrace.
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Post someone said scope met with mps what happened pls and how many mps attended
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Read an article that says DWP rolling out connect to work? Are they allowed to do this without it being passed ??
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Really awful the way we have been victimised bullied and inflicted with mental torture at the hands of these psychopaths and people outside the disabled community's are seeing this also suffering as well we don't see what goes on behind number ten I bet it's Tense
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It's cruel so cruel bit your right they don't care but we do imagine there's millions of us I'm sure there is so much going on in the back ground that we don't know organisations lawyers all watching and waiting hold in there they will not get away with this there will be alot of people pushing back big time
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