Green Paper Related Discussions

The Government’s consultation on the Pathways to Work Green Paper closes on Monday, June 30 and we plan to deliver our response - with the open letter that you signed – by hand to Downing Street.

To remind you - the letter sets out the key concerns many of us share:

• That the proposals risk cutting crucial financial support to Disabled people without improving access to work. 
• That proper consultation is missing where it matters most. 
• That real change requires listening to Disabled people and working with us on what’s urgently needed: real reform of PIP and the Work Capability Assessment – so they work for Disabled people, not cut their benefits - effective safeguarding, access to employment support, and a national strategy for advice services. 

Together, we are delivering a thoughtful, united response that reflects the real needs of Disabled people and calls for a better way forward.

Ensuring your voice is heard where it counts 

This letter isn’t the only way we’re making sure our voices are heard.

We’ve also been actively engaging with policymakers to raise concerns face-to-face: 

• Last week, our campaign CEO, Caroline Collier, and Head of Policy, Geoff Fimister, met with Dan Tomlinson, MP for Chipping Barnet, to discuss our serious concerns about the Green Paper and the missing proposals from the official consultation.
• Next week, we’ll meet with David Pinto-Duschinsky, MP for Hendon, to continue those conversations in Parliament.
• Geoff Fimister also spoke at the National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers (NAWRA) conference, calling for a national advice strategy to ensure Disabled people can access local, independent support when dealing with benefits and related systems.
• Just this week, Caroline Collier, along with several other Deaf and Disabled People’s Organisations, met with officials from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to contribute to the ongoing Mayfield Review and advocate for a more inclusive approach to employment reform. The Mayfield Review aims to identify the scale, trends, obstacles and opportunities for companies when recruiting and retaining ill and disabled people. 

Each of these meetings strengthens the message in our open letter, and each step gets us closer to ensuring Disabled people’s voices are central to decisions being made. 

A word about the Spending Review  

You may have caught the Government’s Spending Review announcement on Wednesday. We welcome the renewed investment in employment support, but to truly deliver change, this agenda must be led by Disabled-led organisations who are the experts in inclusive employment. The government’s commitments will only be meaningful if Disabled people and Disabled-led organisations are at the centre of delivery. We urge policymakers to partner with those who have lived experience and invest in what already works. 

We value your support 

We look forward to bringing you more updates in the weeks to come. In the meantime, here’s how you can help: 

• Forward this email to friends, family, and colleagues. 
• Follow us and share our updates on X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, and LinkedIn.

When we act together, clearly and collectively, our voices carry. Public pressure works, but only if people know what’s happening and take action. Let’s make sure our voices are heard.

Thank you, as always, for being part of this.

Kind regards,

Campaign for Disability Justice