Labour were forced to abandon the PIP four point rule in the final hour of today’s debate, in order to save the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.

In the end, the bill passed its second reading with a majority of 75, with 335 voting in favour and 260 against.  49 Labour MPs rebelled and voted against the bill.  You can see a full list of the votes here

This means that the 4-point PIP rule is effectively dead after Labour made its biggest concession yet. 

Little more than an hour before today’s debate ended and voting began, Timms told the House: 

"I can announce that we are going to remove the clause five from the bill at committee, that we will move straight to the wider review, sometimes referred to as the Timms review, and only make changes to Pip eligibility, activities and descriptors following that review."

Clause 5 is the 4-point rule.

It will no longer appear in the bill when amendments are made next week.

This means that the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill no longer has anything to do with Personal Independence Payment.

The main purpose of the bill is now to take money from future recipients of the UC health element, though current claimants will not be affected, and to introduce the severe conditions criteria.

The cut to the UC health element, in itself, should have been enough for MPs to vote the bill down, but it was an issue that received much less attention.

The Timms review will now decide the future of PIP.  And if, as Labour have promised, the review is genuinely coproduced with disabled people there is very little chance of the 4-point rule ever happening. 

There is undoubtedly still danger ahead, however.  Timms was asked twice if the changes to PIP made by the review would be put into primary or secondary legislation, Timms said that would depend on the result of the review.

But, if the government chooses to put any changes in secondary legislation, MPs would not be able to amend them and would not be given a vote on them, unless via arcane parliamentary procedure.  This may be a battleground for the third reading next week.

Nonetheless, as things stand, an enormous amount of distress has been caused to millions of disabled claimants, only to end up with a bill that has entirely abandoned its primary aim.

For Timms, Kendall and Reeves, however brave a face they put on it, today has been an enormous humiliation.  For campaigners, facing a government with a massive majority and an extraordinary degree of arrogance, it has been a remarkable – though by no means total - victory.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Liz Kendall, is attempting to save face. Timms has demonstrated aloof indifference to disability. Racheal Reeves and Darren Jones, made that pompous statement about pocket money.
    This whole saga has been a ramshackle lack of compassion leading to a now castrated green paper.
    The labour party has been, traditionally, the party of the people, it appear unclear who this changed labour party represents. Vote into office as "change" and to remove a toxic conservative party. Turns out to be, more of the same.

    I don't really like the idea of polarising disability and I do believe that most people agree the benefit system is in chaos and very much unfair.
    Disability has not created any of the social or economic issues here in 2025.
     
    "Where next Columbus"
     
    Many of us would very much, find self-worth in work, but honestly at a further impact to our health issues. The labour party has chosen to attack our dignity and wellbeing.

    “If you are confused about the someone’s intention, observe their behaviour”
     
    What an utterly shameful display of incompetence from the labour government
     


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      · 18 hours ago
      @john They have, and always will, put us through utter hell. Liars, hypocrites, not an ounce of empathy. Starmer and his henchmen, ashamed of my local mp for ignoring my simple email question "are you for or against welfare reform", surprise, he voted For! They are absolute horrors of human beings. Pocket money! Stroppy teenagers! I, along with many others hidden disabilities or visible, worked for as long as possible THROUGH our painful disabilities, paid our tax and national insurance and I worked 34+ years, earned my state pension whenever that is given to me, so pocket money, the little oik. He and his henchmen are not fit to lick our boots. WHY do people hate disabled people so much, you know what, we didn't pick this, disability picked us! I'm disgusted with them, they've sold out labour values, just get them and the Tories out, and please get a coalition of parties in (NOT Reform omg) who actually care about the vulnerable, NOT their bank balances and other material goods. Disability discrimination, you name it, they're guilty of that and much more. They have no shame. I'm weary of feeling terrified because I'm disabled ok hidden disabilities but still disabled. We get abuse and judged by society and the government helped that attitude grow. Thanks Starmer, look how far you've dipped, and your tarnished reputation isn't done with yet. Shame on you, shame on labour but thank you to the few who STILL voted against yesterday and weren't taken in by those lies. 
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      · 1 days ago
      @Nige60
      A good read Nige60.  Enjoyed your write up of the whole scenario.  Also how much time have they wasted on this fiasco and how much has it cost everyone (politicians get paid for this)
      Hey, gizza a job yosser, I can do that!
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      · 1 days ago
      @Nige60 Starmer in cabinet meetings was the original person who talked about disability benefits being pocket money, and disabled people like stroppy teenagers, if you remove their pocket money rather than continuing to indulge their idleness they will get a job and be happier.

      Presumably no one at the cabinet table objected to Starmer's characterisation of disabled people and benefits. And some went on to echo that opinion. 
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      · 1 days ago
      @Nige60 Liz Kendall attempting to save face has been the most joyous moment of this whole saga. Obviously you can't tell how angry she is they lost the bill because she's always angry. 
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    · 1 days ago
    good morning all .

    I emailed my local labour councillor , here where i live in the Cynon valley in the south Wales valley regarding the reforms that this labour government planned on doing regarding the welfare cuts .
    I have had no response from this mp , but this morning i did a check to see if my mp voted for the welfare cuts or against and i can tell you this mp voted for the cuts.
    The same mp also voted to cut the winter fuel payments for the elderly .


    Just thought i would let you all know what our mp's are not doing to help the most vulnerable in society and to say i am frustrated by this is an understatement .
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      · 18 hours ago
      @colcs I did the same, and my MP voted exactly as yours. I actually emailed saying a yes or no would do - seeing as he'd fobbed off every message. I didn't get that. I looked on the voting record and YES he'd voted in favour. Tory Labour. You are exactly right. Our MPs are not helping the most vulnerable in their constituencies anything but. They want to hold on to their seats, and poor vulnerable people aren't worthy of help in their eyes. Frustrated is the word I will use, but im definitely not thinking it. Just one minute face to face, only me allowed to tell him what it feels like, I will just dream - or rather keep on with the daily nightmares. 
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      · 1 days ago
      @colcs He was all cosied up sat next to liz Kendel during the vote. You would think he would have more sense considering the large number of PIP recipients in his constituency, one of the largest in the country. He obviously does not care about them and more his job in government.
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      · 1 days ago
      @colcs Well whilst it's not entirely consolation, your mp voted through very little. As for cuts to the winter fuel allowance, perhaps you should thank him for fuelling the huge effort which has limited the damage of the proposed cuts and called out the government's glaring lack of compassion or competence. Well done the right dishonourable member for Cynon Taf, good luck when you become unemployed!
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    · 1 days ago
    this article is more optimistic than I am.
    "The Bill we voted on tonight is still unamended. The 4-point PIP rule is still there. Over 700,000 sick & disabled people will lose their UC health element — around £3,000 a year each." Imran Hussain MP https://x.com/Imran_HussainMP/status/1940126820692554199
    My local MP Paul Davies emailed me a week ago to say he would oppose the bill, a week later he voted for the bill.
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      · 1 days ago
      @Anon Paul Davies is my MP as well. He has consistently supported the cuts as I've had a dialogue with him on this for several months. He values his career more than anything. As I've warned him with a small majority this issue may well cost him his seat at the next election. As DPAC have said we won't forgive or forget those labour MPs who voted for this bill. Many have now made certain they will lose their seats at the next election. 
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      · 1 days ago
      @Anon Bills are not amended at the second reading they are amended at the reporting stage.
      1st reading. Commons informed of the bill, bill published.
      Parliamentary briefing published to give MPs context to the bill
      2nd reading. Vote on does the Commons agree with the general principles/objective of the bill.
      Committee stage. Looks at the bill line by line, makes suggestions on improving the bill.
      Reporting stage. Amendments to the bill tabled, debated and voted on by the Commons.
      3rd reading. Vote on does the Commons agree with the bill as amended.
      House of Lords if a money bill. No ability to amend the bill, and even if the Lords do not support the bill it goes for Royal Ascent one month after going to the Lords as it is purely within the Commons financial privilege. 
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      · 1 days ago
      @Anon @Anon A week is a long time in politics. Seriously, though, perhaps he thought he'd achieved enough helping to get the concessions. You should encourage him to scrutinise the bill next week and vote on the right version.
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      · 1 days ago
      @Anon @Anon This is why we need to be vigilant and proactive as I have posted below, and point out the dangers of not paying attention to what is being voted for next week.
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    · 1 days ago
    The government will still now be working on how to get their way. But we can do the same.

    During the next few days we must urge all our mps to be prepared and clear as to what should be on the bill next Wednesday when it is set out in writing, from the title to the content; what amendments to propose if necessary, and to stand firm and vote against the bill at third reading if it does not meet our demands. There can be a return to rebel numbers if there is a return in the newly presented bill to anything which appears to contradict the verbal assurances of concessions made yesterday.

    Given the uproar, there is no way, even in the Timms review, that all we have fought against can simply be reintroduced, ever. We are not going to go gentle, are we? We are never going to go gentle.

    We must keep up the pressure on mps to ensure they are ready, by Wednesday 9th July, to know what they should be expecting to vote for in our interests, to stand against being bounced into voting otherwise, and to throw the whole thing out if it is not what we want.

    Please use/adapt this post if you find it helpful drafting your communications with your mps and others. Daliwch ati bois! Daliwch ati.


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      · 22 hours ago
      @HL
      @HL, thanks for asking. Brilliant that you would think to do this. How I feel about your question is we already have some excellent publicisers who post here and I certainly don't feel I'm able to do better with regard to the fantastic job they've done getting the
      message out and engaging the media on a grand scale.

      So I concentrate firstly on my own mp of course, who is a stalwart disability rights defender. There's no harm in bringing your mp up to speed, even if they think they 'support' 'the bill - support what, now, though? They might think again if you point out how badly considered the whole thing is and how far it has come anyway from what the government wanted. It needs to be started again and conducted properly. Try asking your mp if they want to be associated with this historical horlicks.

      I inform local advice and day centres to give them updates so they can disperse the information more widely and help anxious people who go to them. I talk about welfare business to my GP so she is better informed and I spread the news via my family so people are more generally aware and some are in a position to pass things on in the wider community.

      Talking to people in the library is always a good way to keep the conversation going, because people ask there for information and discuss it and look things up. You might get lucky with a local councillor who will take up the cause and do some stirring. Mine hangs out at a local cafe with his dog and laptop.

      Well, you're going to be busy this next week! Don't worry, St David said 'gwnewch y pethau bychain' - 'do the small things'. They all count!
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      · 1 days ago
      @Frances Hi Frances,

      My MP supports the Bill (at least officially).

      Any thoughts on who else we could contact – because I understand we are not meant to email MPs who are not our own?

      With thanks
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      · 1 days ago
      @Frances
      The irony - my post was entirely cut! That's what happens when you fail to follow your own advice - compose, cut, paste, post!

      We need to see it in black and white. It can't even be called the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill now.

      I don't think it will work for the government to try and push through unpopular measures via secondary legislation - that would be a total abuse of the democratic process and after what has occurred, it would bring about a massive revolt.

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      · 1 days ago
      @Frances Also, when the Timms review comes, it can be disputed if it fails to protect those who qualify overall for any element of pip because of a total of points, without restrictions on the configuration of those points, or unreasonable barrier to being awarded them.

      We fight on! It's worked so far - look how far we've already shifted the Timmoveable object!
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    · 1 days ago
    I suspect the real point of the Bill is to do away with whole swathes of state provision of health insurance opening up the multi£bn private sector. I would  think, from Timms' evasiveness, that's all still in play. 
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      · 1 days ago
      @Anniesmum The problem for any Govt going down this path is that insurance companies assess risk, and if the risk is too high, they will decline applications. The Govt would have to introduce a state backed insurance scheme of last resort, which will be basic but expensive to operate.
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      · 1 days ago
      @billkruse Yes. There was an article in the Canary newspaper about Kendall meeting with health insurance companies. They are trying to make us like America.
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      · 1 days ago
      @D @D, yes, so mps need to make sure that on Wednesday next week this question asked by Andy McDonald yesterday is no longer necessary, and that they have eaten enough to keep up their concentration:

       "“So I ask the question, what are we supposed to be voting on tonight”, he asked incredulously. “Is it the Bill as drawn, or another Bill, because I’m confused. I think people in this chamber will need that clarification.”

      Another MP joked that she went out for a banana and by the time she came back, the bill had completely changed. "
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    · 1 days ago
    I think we all know that the uc/pip bill is now doa (if all of the concessions get implemented) and even if it goes through on the 3rd reading next week the last week has left a ‘poll tax’ type stain, nay crater on the rep of Labour under starmer

    A serious question here - at this point would it be less damaging for the gov to withdraw the bill themselves, hold there hands up and vow to carefully take time rewriting fair reforms rather than rush things through.

    I understand that the bill is in a gutted mess because Labour rebels were successful on putting pressure on the government and that if all the orignal 126 Labour rebels stood their ground then it’s possible starmers gov could of collapsed over the next few days.

    But many disabled only think in black or white, life or death and MPs who are allies and those that throw them under the bus 

    There are grateful disabled only social media but the vast majority is looking for the blood of all Labour MPs who voted for the bill or abstained and I don’t think they’ll be easily forgiven

    We’ve just seen how much damage this bills discussion in commons in the last 2days has done to the Labour gov (who are significantly wounded) - how much more damage will be done even if the gov get the nod to make it a money bill and wrap things up all in one day next week

    And as I said before both Kendall’s and timms relationship with disabled community is irreparably damaged at this point - the longer starmer allows them to continue in their position the more damage they’ll do to starmers gov but also labours rep for years to come. (I’m not a fan of McGowan but sensibly she has kept pretty quiet on this bill and abstained in today’s vote so the jury if still out on her unlike the other 2)

    I really fear a reform gov or the tories getting back in and there’s a huge likelihood that this bill will be the noose that hangs this Labour gov and starmer needs to pull this bill openly (rather than sneak drop) to reduce the chance of this shitshow of a saga being terminal for his gov

    But 70 rebel Labour MPs are in hot water tonight (as well as all but 49 Labour MPs) - they need to think very carefully about their next move next week.

    Many disabled are aggressively attacking those Labour MPs who voted with gov (out of fear of collapsing gov I imagine) - don’t like flip floppers but I don’t agree with threats or rudeness 

    We still need these rebels to persuade leadership that the least damaging move for their party is probably to withdraw the bill and launch a proper consultation asap and be willing to rewrite and scrap large amounts of this welfare bill version 1

    Todays result was disappointing (and in some ways victorious depending on how the next week plays out) - I know everyone’s tired but this particular battle has only just started and next week will have even more at stake (we can rest in summer recess before the war likely continues in September)



    From Robert Preston:

    Here is the scale of the government’s humiliation tonight.

    A week ago Downing St was warning any Labour MP who was thinking of not voting for the welfare reform that they would never get a job on the payroll. As late as Wednesday the Treasury insisted there would be no backing down. Today Angela Rayner and Liz Kendall were ringing round Labour MPs asking frantically what it would take to secure their votes.

    In the end and at the last moment, the government has announced that there would be zero cuts in PIP for the forecastable future. The rebels got everything they wanted.

    The rump of the bill spends money - on up-rating universal credit, on work coaches: it doesn’t save a penny.

    Even so, a staggering 49 Labour MPs voted against it, presumably because they simply don’t trust Starmer and Reeves.

    And poor Rachel Reeves in her autumn budget somehow has to find not just the £5bn she lost with this radical surgery on the welfare bill, but countless billions more if she is to meet her self-imposed fiscal targets (the respected NIESR says she is just £57bn shy of balance!).

    But the real damage is something else. The disability bill for government has been rising unsustainably fast. Maybe some of that can be fixed as and when the NHS is fixed, or if an effective nationwide system of work coaches is established.

    But is it remotely plausible that - after the soon-to-be-established Timms review of eligibility criteria for disability payments reports in 16 or 17 months - that the PM will risk taking a penny away from any vulnerable person?

    I can’t find anyone close to him who thinks that kind of money-saving welfare reform is still alive, in practice.

    The true scale of this fiscal and political catastrophe is that if the government had reviewed the PIP and UC framework before announcing targets for cuts, there might well have been scope to make serious savings.

    But in announcing that quantified savings were the prime motivator, the Treasury and Downing Street gave Labour MPs an important important cause, one that trumps party loyalty - and they have tonight closed down any prospect for Starmer of curbing the growth of the welfare budget for the foreseeable future.
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      · 1 days ago
      @D Reeves shouldn't have went ahead and spent money before the bill was up for a vote.
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    · 1 days ago
    I want to take a bit of a step back from all of this for a little while - certainly from fighting against it on social media, which is rather draining.  But I also realise that most of us are either worried or have little faith in the forthcoming review from Timms.  So, I have gone all out by writing a letter (being sent snail mail) to Timms, Kendall and Starmer.  I have no faith that I will ever get a reply, but I think it's important that concerns are aired from the outset.  I'm pasting it below, and will of course let you know if there is ever a reply.   If they take me to the tower, wish me luck! I bet it hasn't even got a disabled loo!

    Dear....

    Like many disabled people, I am relieved to have seen the most damaging parts of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill removed prior to the vote in the Commons that took place today, July 1st.

    One of the concessions, however, is the promise that the PIP review led by Sir Stephen Timms will be carried out with the co-operation of disabled charities, associations and individuals. However, it is very difficult to believe this when the Pathways to Work consultation took place in such a slapdash, unethical manner. Not only were key parts of the legislation not consulted on at all, but the other parts of the consultation treated disabled people with a mix of disrespect and utter contempt.

    I was due to take part in a virtual consultation event on May 6th. The previous week, on May 1st, an email was sent to all participants, which broke privacy rules by revealing the full names and email addresses of everyone involved. No apology or formal acknowledgement was made by the DWP, despite a complaint being made.

    Things went from bad to worse, when 12 disabled individuals (possibly more) were unable to take part in the May 6th consultation because the log-in information we were sent for MS Teams did not work. The only contact information we had with the DWP was via the events.pathwaystowork@dwp.gov.uk email address. A complaint was again sent to that email address. No reply was received. In fact, none of us ever heard from the organisers again. There was not even an acknowledgement that we weren’t able to attend.

    What exactly is the point in involving disabled people in a consultation if we don’t actually get to attend, despite “tickets?” This wasn’t the only issue, as I’m sure you are aware. There was an in-person consultation event in Manchester on May 7th where the details of the location were sent so late that many disabled people couldn’t organise their journey/route in time. Disabled people need longer to plan journeys, find somewhere to stay etc. You would think that, of all people, the DWP would understand this. And then the only in-person event in Wales was cancelled completely.

    So, I am writing to ask how we can trust the government to really carry out the PIP review with the co-operation of disabled people, bearing in mind that the DWP couldn’t manage to organise these events competently (or even reply to emails), and that they did so with so little thought for the needs of disabled people?

    The disabled community has gone through a great deal during the last three months, and this is your collective fault. If you hadn’t tried to cut corners and perform a sleight of hand by not consulting on the main elements of the benefits bill, you might not have been gutting it completely tonight in an attempt to save face against the brave Labour rebels.

    Either way, we should not have been left to suffer a barrage of lies and myths from Labour MPs in media interviews over the last three months. Why were you linking cutting PIP with people getting jobs? You knew full well that PIP is not an out of work benefit. Cutting people’s benefits by up to £9000 a year (daily living PIP plus health UC when you scrap the WCA) doesn’t make them any healthier or able to work. Quite the opposite, in fact. And yet you repeated the lie so many times that even journalists started to believe it and printed it as fact.

    The consultation for the green paper was shambolic (and a sham), so what assurances can you give us that the much larger review that is to follow will be any better, any less chaotic, and any more interested in hearing the voices of disabled people? Given what has passed, many of us have absolutely no faith that it will be anything other than another smoke screen, with decisions already made before the review even begins. What are the disabled organisations and charities you will be working with? How will they be able to feed into your decisions and recommendations? And how do we know that you won’t simply listen and then set their views aside?

    We are, after all, fully aware that all three of you must have seen the many reports from respected organisations and charities that have been published since the Green Paper was revealed in March. You arrogantly cast those views aside. How do we know you are not going to do the same thing again? And how do we get assurances that you will actually be meeting disabled individuals during the review, rather designating the job to someone else? And how can we trust in Sir Stephen Timms when it was he that trivialised those with “low level functional needs” such as washing, dressing, using the toilet, and cooking as being easily managed with “small interventions?”

    Unless we get assurances, and see published the genuine results, correspondence and recommendations from disabled organisations and individuals, the disabled community is unlikely to have faith in anything that is likely to be decided over the next eighteen months, and that will result in the same amount of anger and dismay as this time around.

    I look forward to your reply/replies,

    Yours faithfully



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      · 16 hours ago
      @D I think they call it honour among thieves. 
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      · 17 hours ago
      @SLB The letter is now posted on X, and also in the post to its recipients.

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      · 18 hours ago
      @SLB It’s a good letter that should be sent to the original 126 labour rebels as well

      This particular chapter hasn’t ended (although the impression I’m getting from some is that it’s pointless wasting energy on the bills 3rd reading and we should regroup and concentrate on the incoming bullet train that is the timms review)

      I disagree but I’ll see if the major disability campaign groups manage to talk some sense into the rebels that flip (though reading MPs accounts most consider the issues with the bill resolved and closed and I’ll doubt there will be any new drama with this bill now - apart from the gov getting the media to blame disabled for upcoming £5b tax rises)

      Starmers already moved on like everything’s dandy and uninterested in the continued pain to disabled caused now he’s gotten what he wanted in the bill going through

      Early signs are that gov has learnt nothing and trying to archive the controversy away (ridiculous that no minister will likely lose their jobs and it’s ’as you were’ with reeves, Kendall and timms - as I said the gov has learnt nothing and still show zero respect towards disabled£
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      · 20 hours ago
      @george25 I'll post it to them on X at some point shortly.
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      · 20 hours ago
      @pollenpath That's very kind.  I write novels and non-fiction, so I'm just lucky to be able to write and can do it quite quickly - I just wish I could hsve used it for a more pleasurable purpose over the last 3 months.
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    · 1 days ago
    The way the government has handled this has been nothing short of abhorrent. Timms, Kendall and co should have been listening to the disabled community & charities from the outset. How can we as a community and charities have any faith in Timms & Kendall? I think they need to go. I honestly don't think Timms, Kendall & co are interested in what we have to say.
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    · 1 days ago
    “Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.”

    That's an apt saying for this farce of a vote, again I do believe that benefit reforms should happen but not in the way Labour, Reform and the Tories want. I want a system which safeguards the most vulnerable, those who will never recover whilst giving rest bite and support back into a work place environment for people who will recover to a semblance of normality.

    Having medical professionals assess is one thing, having psychiatry to assess mental illnesses also. I believe in the carrot approach for Depression/Anxiety as in my lowest moments doing nothing made things worse, people need help, need compassion, not nasty, spiteful nonsensical soundbites from overpaid out of touch politicians. 

    Britain is in a crisis of morality, it's a fractured country in regards of this situation. Nowhere else in Western or Northern Europe treats incapacitated or disabled people with such hatred. 
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    · 1 days ago
    This government should get brought to the courts for making the disabled (us) and mental health(us) go through this such bullying experience over the last 6 months or so should be in front judges facing discrimination against us and bullying us any normal would be so why not them. Is shows you that Kendall who is running dwp has  not a clue of how to treat us with respect. She stated in tv news she needs to listen more and learn from it that tells us she’s not fit to be in charge of dwp will defo voting lib dems once again at next GE. 
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      · 10 hours ago
      @Diceman24 Yep I went back on anti depressants because of all of this. And I have agoraphobia but try on average to leave the house once a week, and I was doing well, but since these cuts were announced I've had no fight in me and can honestly say I haven't left the house since it started. Just sleeping and overthinking, worrying, feeling a burden. I'm actually lucky to still be here.
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    · 1 days ago
    Can anyone put today’s events in layman’s terms please. Is it good, bad, or still running around like headless chickens.
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      · 1 days ago
      @Shelbee It is bad. Now there is no protection for existing claimants. Protection was going to be added to clause 5. Clause 5 is now to be removed. Clause 5 is the 4 point rule.

      The only hope we have is that MPs fight for this protection when debating the Timms Review. I cant see this happening as MPs are saying NO to a 2 tier system. This means that MPs will not fight for protection for existing claimants.
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    · 1 days ago
    I just don't trust this sneaky lot to not go back on there concessions or try to twist things. But it could be worse. If the conservatives were in power things would be a whole lot worse. I will never vote in any election ever again, I'm done. Can't trust any of them.  I hope karma bites them on the backside. Keir, Liz Kendall, Rachel reeves - (Richard the third) from accounts, need to be gone. Every time I compare pictures of Rachel and Richard lll it makes me laugh. Have to cheer myself up some how. 
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    · 1 days ago
    well done to my local mp Ian lavery if there were more labour mps like him stramer kendal reeves and timms would be gone what a total farce the labour party are i'll never vote labour again they are clueless liars who are not fit to govern and target the wrong people and they forget who got them electedstephen timms is a disgusting man his comments about disabled people are shockingand the fact he is disabilie minister shows how heartless and out of touch the labour party are a rich cabinet who don't know a thing about daily stuggles
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    · 1 days ago
    Well done to everyone who fought hard against the bill. This is a terrific victory. There is still a lot of work to be done but you should always celebrate your victories. Let's face it a month ago no one expected this result from a government with such a huge majority. 
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    · 1 days ago
    I'm more scared of what Timms has in store. He's shown his hand, and it's clear what they want to do. They'll find another way to make cuts. I will never trust them now.
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      · 1 days ago
      @Alex It’s almost certainly due to pressure from American private insurance companies. They have been involved with the DWP for a long time now.
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      · 1 days ago
      @Aw They seem hell bent on cutting benefits at any cost.  It seems irrational and makes me wonder why?  This was never in their manifesto, they stayed quiet about benefits and waited for their moment to attack us.  Why?  Who is pulling the strings here?
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      · 1 days ago
      @Aw They'll be back to try again without a doubt. 
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    · 1 days ago
    I have until August to migrate to Universal Credit. Im now not sure if I get transitional protection. Do these changes come into force immediately or from November 2026? I don't think the government know either. More worrying ahead!
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      · 23 hours ago
      @Nutcracker I'm also one of the ones on the old adult DLA infinite award waiting to change over ,feel like I've been left in limbo ,I don't understand any of what's happening . 
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      · 1 days ago
      @Cuckoo21 Thank you Cuckoo. Im also one of the 500,000 DLA recipients left to change over to PIP, but i have an indefinite award & i have heard that this now won't be done until April 2028, so I'll be classed as a new PIP claimant, after anything changes in November 2026. I so doubt that I'll even qualify for it, but i think I need to try & stop worrying (hard i know) & live my life as best as I can.
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      · 1 days ago
      @Nutcracker You'll be fine, don't worry. It won't happen until 2026 as far as I understand. Certainly not by august. I hope that puts you mind at rest. 
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    · 1 days ago
    Maybe their primary aim was to distress us.

    May we all humiliate them further.
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      · 20 hours ago
      @Anon I don't think that was their primary aim at all. They are running scared of Reform, that's the top and bottom of it. 

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