The Universal Credit Bill becomes law. Here are the changes to disability benefits you need to know
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Not all independent news is reported correctly @Catherine21 I'd say it's best to wait for official announcements. 😊
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Don't hold much faith in this lot I can't stop worrying about not getting migration letter its always something
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I do apologise passerby, I must have got you mixed up with another post on here. Don't know how I did that.
But did read your last post where you said it wasn't you, but regarding bank checks, I can only repeat what the telephone appointment person said to me on 2 separate occasions, which was they asked for my bank details in all bank accounts and any monies going over their limit means the forfeit of money being reduced and /or stopped altogether! so if they don't have access like you say, what's the point in asking me for it? I'm very confused by it all. Anyways, sincere apologies passerby and look through my previous posts and see if I can see what I was trying to get at. Yours sincerely
Socrates.
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So Telegraph (I really don't look for their articles, a terrible paper) were running with Pat McFadden replacing Liz Kendall with plans for another benefits clampdown. I mean I thought all of this was done with.
Expect more Labour infighting, more rebellions and that was maybe why MP's like Maskell lost the whip so they will start again sans rebels.
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Liz Kendall had to go. Her plans to tighten disability payments sparked too much backlash. Too many MPs pushed back, and the mood in Parliament shifted. Rather than escalate the fight, Labour quietly moved her to a different role, and in came Pat McFadden as the new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
But this was not just a straight swap. The job itself has been split. McFadden now leads the DWP, while, and here is the twist, Baroness Jacqui Smith has been quietly brought in from the House of Lords to take charge of skills and training. Her new role stretches across both the DWP and the Department for Education. It is not a typical setup, and it has not had much public attention, but it is clearly strategic.
In my view, this feels like a tactical move. By linking training to benefits, the government can repackage reform as “support” rather than cuts. Smith is seen as an experienced, steady pair of hands, and both she and McFadden have reputations for getting things done. It is the sort of arrangement where the changes happen but the headlines do not.
And you are right about the rebels. Rachael Maskell lost the Labour whip for standing up to the last round of disability cuts. If Labour is clearing the decks, it is not just about enforcing discipline. It is about removing internal resistance before the next push.
It is not a brand new clampdown. It is the same cuts, restructured and rebranded, with a quieter rollout and fewer rebels in the way. For anyone checking the details, Baroness Smith’s appointment is listed in the official ministerial reshuffle announcement on
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I emailed racheal maskell after she lost the whip now bearing in mind I'd previously emailed her 4 times before and she always replied but she never replied after she lost the whip
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They left a gap between uc and pip they have it all planned out i dont think there will be as much pushbacks this time hes put fear into most mps
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Ps also the people on panel for pip cuts had to sign gagging clause so no information gets leaked
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Let's hope this is true because timms was the same and look how he turned out we all should email her
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Yes, I was aware, Catherine. Non-disclosure agreements began to surface in July, and by August it became clear that certain panel members had been asked to sign them. This has raised concerns among organisations about their inability to share updates with those directly affected by the proposed PIP reforms.
The use of NDAs gives the government tight control over the narrative; when contributors are prevented from speaking openly, dissent and exclusion remain hidden. This approach does not protect sensitive information, it serves to avoid scrutiny. The situation is strongly reminiscent of the Pathways to Work consultation, which quickly turned into a farce.
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Catherine, I am not being critical, just wanted to gently point out that it’s the wrong Baroness Smith you are referring to. The one appointed to the DWP is Baroness Jacqui Smith of Malvern, not Baroness Angela Smith of Basildon. It is confusing, as the official listings do not include first names. They are considered informal, so are left out of announcements. You mentioned emailing her, so I thought it was worth mentioning to make sure it goes to the right Smith.
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somebody reason with me because legal jargon goes over my head.
On a scale of 1 to completely F’d … where are we at?
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Be prepared for a fight but starmer has lined his followers up and the 10 people on the panel signed gagging clause to leak noting I'm just at the point of whatever just have to fight it when it happens
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OOh OK yes was Angela Smith I emailed from parliament Christian group I think ? What's this barroness like any idea ?
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Oh here we go another upstanding pillar of society
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Vile I don't expect good things from them
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Catherine, I’m not expecting good things either. But Smith’s new job links benefits and training, which gives her more control over how support is offered and what conditions are added. The press focused on McFadden, but Smith’s role did not get much attention. That is where the real changes will come from.
On a separate note, I will be writing to my MP later today regarding the non-disclosure agreements applied to panel members involved in the proposed PIP reforms. I am seeking reassurance that this consultation is genuinely open, particularly for disabled people. My MP is planning to hold workshops on the reforms, which I welcome. But if we are not allowed to know what is being discussed behind the scenes, the process risks feeling hollow rather than meaningful.
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