Reshuffle

stressed76

Pat Mcfadden becomes DWP minister is this good or bad?

Martinp

bad bad bad

Albus_Scope

If you could add some reasoning to that @Martinp it'd be appreciated. We don't want to scare people here please.

KG100

I think he's also combining his DWP role with another department, Sky news calling it a super department.

Albus_Scope

You can read about an MPs voting record here @stressed76 that can often give you a bit of an idea about who's taking on new roles. But I'd not worry too much, they've been an MP for 20 years now, so I think they'll hopefully know what they're doing. 😊

edit

Having a quick look at his voting history, he seems pretty pro disability. He voted down the majority of the PIP changes. Apparently he's a very good communicator too. So fingers crossed.

Martinp

sorry albus just a personal opinion, don’t want to worry anyone as he might be great.

KG100

They're calling it a new super ministry, and will include the skills remit of the department of education and DWP combined.

Albus_Scope

Oh no worries at all @Martinp we just find it's better if people can say why they think it'd be good or bad. 😊

Passerby

He's worse than Liz Kendall. He's evil of the highest order.

I wonder what has happened to Liz Kendall, by the way!

Albus_Scope

His voting record on welfare etc can be found here for anyone interested in having a look? 😊 He's consistently voted against drops in benefits.

Martinp

Good old Liz been moved to the science innovation department

Andi66

David Lammy as deputy prime minister, you should Google him on mastermind. Pat mcfadden as well as dwp , he's taking over skills which what used to education. Pity reeves wasn't booted out.

Andi66

Just googled, he defended the cuts Kendall and starmer were doing. There been furough about him claiming £40.000 on expenses for his house and he owns the next door house

Ironside1990

I'I'm surprised.'Im not sure how old that pic of Liz Kendal is, that was posted on Twitter announcing her new post, but she looks happy even though she's lost the DWP job. The one she's waited years for.

Dianaf

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1065342#Comment_1065342

Yes just looked it up. He defended all the proposed cuts to pip. Why do you think starmer has given him the job. It's very bad news 😞

Passerby

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1065390#Comment_1065390

When she was appointed as the shadow secretary for the DWP on 4 September 2023, she said that she "had always dreamed of holding this post one day" - just to make us life harder.

Ironside1990

^Would've thought she'd be annoyed.

Grissom123

Does this mean that the Universal Credit Bill will now be scrapped, or is it still going to go ahead?

axab43

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/comment/1065422#Comment_1065422

From what I understand that bill has become law. I don't understand what further reforms they are going to try and push through as they have already cut Universal Credit for all new claimants, and PIP is being reviewed anyway in the Timms reports next year. I don't see what else they can do? I don't know if any one else does on here.

MW123

@axab43

The UC Bill 2025 became law on 4 September after receiving Royal Assent. Changes will roll out gradually. Existing claimants are protected for now.

The Act sets up bigger shifts, a new “severe conditions criteria” for the higher UC health element, phased removal of the WCA by 2028, and a two-tier system for new claimants from April 2026, who will get less unless they meet stricter rules.

The PIP review led by Timms is separate. It’s not part of this law. It began this autumn and is due to report in late 2026.