Chancellor Rachel Reeves told Channel 4 yesterday that she “can’t leave welfare untouched”, as speculation mounts that additional costs will be added to the Motability scheme.

In the interview Reeves said  ‘You know we’ve now committed to doing reform in a different way, but we can’t leave welfare untouched.

‘We can’t get to the end of this Parliamentary session and I’ve basically done nothing.

‘Because if more and more of our money that we spend as a government is spent on welfare, you’ve got less for the NHS, you’ve got less on schools and you have to put more on people’s taxes.’

Reeves gave no details of what she intended.

But the press have been briefed that the chancellor is considering ending exemption from VAT and insurance tax premiums for Motability cars.  Whilst this would not reduce the benefits bill in any way, it would increase the amount of tax paid by claimants using the Motability scheme.  This could result in around £1 billion a year in extra revenue for the government.

The possibility of removing luxury car brands such as BMW and Mercedes from the scheme is also being considered, as the inclusion of these vehicles causes such outrage in some sections of the press.

More details about what the Chancellor has planned may not emerge until the budget on 26 November.

You can watch the Channel 4 interview here.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 13 days ago
    Starmer's response to Labour's historic defeat in Caerphilly is that voters are disappointed in the slow pace of change. That is MPs that are slowing down the changes he wants to make, like cutting disability benefits, are the problem. Not his changed Labour party moving to the right.

    So it looks like he blames losing voters to reform, rather than to Plaid Cymru.

    While other right wing Labour people are saying Reform losing to Plaid Cymru shows left wing voters will vote tactically for whoever will stop Reform. Which in a general election means they will vote Labour regardless of whatever Labour does that left wing voters disagree with. 
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      · 10 days ago
      @Spectralis I'm stealing your Turkeys voting for Xmas line; brilliant!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 days ago
      @John Is there a source for him saying this? I’d like to share it externally but can’t find it.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 12 days ago
      @John Sounds like he's scapegoating others for his and his own party's failure to listen to the most vulnerable and afraid in this country like he couldn't care less. He strikes me as a Bully, Dictator and a Coward all in one. I know there will be many who don't agree with my description and that is fair enough, we are all entitled to our own opinions. Thank you 
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      · 12 days ago
      @John The Right in Labour have reached full delusion stage. After losing a seat held for 100 years you'd think Starmer and Co. would have some humility and insight.
      Plaid won because the majority of voters know the cause of low wages, cuts in benefits and high rents come from the top. Not due to migrants arriving in boats.
      Reform were devastated because they've swallowed their own racist rhetoric and it failed. Shame Starmer keeps aping them.
      It's a shame Your Party didn't field a candidate because Reform's vote would've collapsed even further.
      Disabled people voting for Reform are like Turkey's voting for Xmas. Let's expose their lies and evil intent.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 days ago
      @John Exactly as expected then.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 14 days ago
    shame on you, trying to imply a publication is legislation that has the power to remove benefits. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 days ago
      @hrh Oh this has got to be a troll! You're not on Twitter here with yer vague  AI bot one liner. Be specific. Make the argument. Not some Starmer light sound bite.
      The point everyone is making in this thread is that the game is afoot. Whether that's Reeves making comments, the influence of right wing think tanks or briefings by McSweeny and Co.
      We might be disabled but we're not idiots. What's benefit cuts is benefit cutter/milk snatcher supremo, Reeves, planning next? Cuts to the mobility scheme has been featured in all the news reports.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 14 days ago
    Hansard - Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill Clause 67, Amendment 27, Moved by Baroness Finn Under this amendment, certain especially intrusive powers, such as requiring the disclosure of personal financial records, applying for search and seizure warrants or imposing deduction orders of over £10,000, would require explicit approval from a Minister of the Crown.

    This amendment was agreed in the House of Lords – click on the link to read the Hansard Report.

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 days ago
      @HL Ought to be the order of an independent Judge, not a Minister of the Crown
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 days ago
      @HL
      And the House of Lords Amendment can be overturned by the House of Commons. And I have no doubt will be. As requiring the government minister to explicitly approve each case would render the legislation pretty pointless. At any time the DWP has around 20,000 open investigations of Benefit Fraud. The point is to free up police time not to have the government minister snowed under with reading and approving every case to permit the DWP to use powers the government wants them to have. 

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 14 days ago
    The public authorities (fraud, error and recovery) bill is going through the Lords it apparently gives DWP staff the  power to use reasonable force to go into benefit claimant's homes, search their homes and seize anything that might be evidence of benefit fraud. 

    Meanwhile the government's Covid fraud department looks like a handful of people working part time. So just for show to get a few high profile cases to make the public think action is being taken. Rather than a serious effort to recoup the money and prosecute the companies and individuals who defrauded the government of an estimated over £10 billion. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 12 days ago
      @HL We all live in Hovels so it wont matter if the police want to enter.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 12 days ago
      @John My understanding is that even the police are not allowed to enter someone’s home without an arrest warrant.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 days ago
      @HL There appears to be no such proviso limiting it to serious and organised crime in the legislation.
       
      The DWP can use the powers to investigate any social security fraud related offences. Like the police they have to get a search warrant approved by the courts. But they will effectively have the same powers as the police when it comes to doing investigations of social security fraud. And the point of the legislation is to free up the police by having the DWP deal with social security fraud cases without having to ask the police to do stuff.

      So even if they start by only using it against serious and organised crime who gets to define what counts as that, and why long-term would they voluntarily limit their powers to just those cases. What are they supposed to do for less serious cases tie one hand behind their backs and not use the full extent of their powers? Go bother the police when they DWP could do it themselves? I can't see that lasting long. 

      The DWP is not the first government organization to be given police powers of getting and implementing search warrants, etcetera. The Food Standards Agency was given such powers some years ago and they are used by the National Food Crime Unit. The whole point of such agencies being given police powers is to free up the police.  
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      · 14 days ago
      @HL
      Yeah, and we all trust and believe the DWP and government.  There won't be any mission creep.  Yeah OK, we trust you.

      Same thing with digital ID.  We won't use it in that way and it will be totally safe from hacking and cyber crime or future governments using it as a tool however they see fit.  OK we believe you.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 days ago
      @John An amendment was voted through in the House of Lords to remove the use of force from the bill.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 15 days ago
    The policy exchange is proposing drastic cuts to welfare, state pensions, raising retirement age, as well as freezing all benefits for 3 years, a fee to see your GP to mention a few of their recommendations.

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 9 days ago
      @rookie  and others. The wise thing is to create an account and be log in every time you comment. For starters, you'll get an unique avatar.  

      If there are ever any posts by a WorkshyLayabout who did not log in when commenting, it will never be me.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 days ago
      @The Dogmother @The Dogmother - Sorry, I was replying to false "rookie", not you. Don't know why your name came up.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 days ago
      @The Dogmother @"rookie"  Don't use my name to express your opinions.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 days ago
      @Neil Cook They do love the down votes.  Always cheers me up to see they never disappoint. Even the simplest comment sends them into a spin..  good eh! 😉
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 days ago
      @The Dogmother Any news about what the DWP have planned for us.
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    · 15 days ago
    I think it would really help to send up these dour, humourless politicians like Reeves and Starmer.
    Disabled people get blamed for lots of things, including excess wind (true in my case). So why not suggest a green tax on disabled people? They can't tax old cows in a field but they could raise money by scapegoating us. It's just 
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    · 15 days ago
    Means test all benefits including state pension 
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      · 13 days ago
      @Bob down Bob down, what's your problem? That's quite a mean thing to say. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 15 days ago
    Yet they want Disabled people to work? As most who receive the high rate mobility are probably unable to use public transport alone, so the answer She has come up with is add more tax?? Perfect! I'm sorry but the woman isn't right. Please do your research, ask Disabled people who have mobility issues and have adapted cars. Just a basic automatic car is £1000"s more than a manual one.
    She is showing her ignorance I'm afraid. 
    I thought they were going to include Disability advice groups. And others 
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    · 15 days ago
    I think the government is missing the fundamental point of the need for a mobility car. It’s people’s lifeline to the outside world.
    They should make us scapegoats because they can’t budget properly and it’s not about raising everyone else’s taxes. This government should learn to have a backbone and insist that companies that want to set up here are not given tax breaks and are made to pay their taxes just like the able man in the street. That would make a huge difference. Another way would be to tax the obscenely rich more. Just 1% more could bring in millions but they are too scared to upset the rich, and companies, and content to trample over those that through no fault of there own, have been dealt a poor hand in life. Can’t believe they think that the old and the disabled are the problem. Plenty of other ways to increase their income. 
    Next they will be euthanising us all, because that would solve all their problems! 
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      · 15 days ago
      @Pandora They need tens of billions not millions.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 15 days ago
    If the ending of exemption from VAT and insurance tax premiums for Motability cars does happen, I will be unable to keep my vehicle. Its not possible for me to use public transport, due to the combination of my multiple disabilities. I am only able to work part-time, again, due to the combination of my multiple disabilities, and would not be able to afford to tax and insure my vehicle. As it is, the cost of filling up on fuel for my WAV is significant. No WAV means my world would shrink to the distance of the battery power of my electric wheelchair. I would not be able to get to essential medical appointments, work commitments, volunteering commitments etc. (You know, the things that add up to actually living a life, and contributing to society?) The annual servicing, maintenance, and repair of my electric wheelchair uses up a significant portion of my DLA/PIP. I am dreading the budget announcements in November.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 15 days ago
    It always seems as though theses  government ministers never seem to know what they’re talking about, the make of a Mobility car generally has very little to do with it, it’s more to do with the safety features ie:, collision avoidance, autonomous emergency, breaking,etc etc, and if you can get a wheelchair in the boot. (That’s what I take into consideration,infact the car my husband used to have,which was a Citroen berllingo , with wheelchair access , I couldn’t afford , as it was over £5000 pounds Advanced payment)Why they’ve targeted Mercedes and BMWs is anyone’s guess., that can only be described as be misguided prejudice, as far as the Advanced payments are concerned, BMWs and Mercedes are no more expensive than anything else.infact they were found to be quite considerably cheaper than a lot of the other so-called non-luxury makes, you’ve got the Vauxhall and Skoda that’s have an advanced payments of nearly £5000 pound., Fords can  be £7254 the Citroen C4 is £7999 where is the Mercedes GLA for instance, is £3999,a BMW 1 series 120 sports  is £2999 perhaps what they’re really saying is that the Mobility allowance should only be used for the old-fashioned Invalid car, if your memory, can go back that far, which was really no more than a glorified motorbike with the cover on it.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 12 days ago
      @Cathy Endean I used to love the light blue invalid car from the 1970s and 80s.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 16 days ago
    I'm a powered wheelchair user and need a vehicle to maintain contact with family and friends, shop, visit medical appointments etc. I am not in a position to be able to pay for VAT on a new car or on the insurance premium element of the car. I already struggle to pay the AVP on a car and cannot afford a WAV. I'm already worried about what happens in 18 months when I have to start the new car order and payment process.
    From another perspective if the motability scheme user cannot afford a scheme vehicle what will the impact be on the motor trade
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 16 days ago
    As someone like others who could use the Motability scheme but at this time cannot afford to do so I have to use my PIP to finance other mobility needs of mine But I have had a Motability car in the past So I know how the scheme works  So 1. No it is not a free car As it is paid for with PIP You do not get PIP plus a car If it did I would have a Motability car right now  2. Most people cannot afford  the large deposits required for these so called luxury cars Many struggle to even find the lower end of the required deposits So choose a car with the lowest deposit car they can that helps them to deal with their individual disability needs Some could not afford or get a car without Motability 3. Most people choosing a Motability car are more interested in getting their lives more mobile rather than what badge the car might have While the scheme could always be better and it is always worth looking at Calling out everyone on PIP is just out for a shiny new flashy car with a sort after badge is not reasonable or fair So once again playing to the narrative that seems a constant from MPs and the media That those on PIP are are just out for what they can get Rather than  those on PIP just trying to just help their actual disability needs to be met So that they might get the same chance to live a life nearer to those abled bodied people Who often take their own mobility for granted
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 10 days ago
      @CC Well said; the only people who can afford the huge AVP, are the middle class or the upper class who get PIP - I have a Motability vehicle and without PIP I would be house bound, shedding out much more than than PIP allowance on taxis to get to the barrage of hospital & medical appointments each month. If the rumours are true about Rachel Reeves suspected hatchet job on Motability, I will not be able to afford future AVP's, or tax or insure a Motability vehicle. Will not be able to afford the proposed changes full stop.

       Honestly, I would accept means testing PIP, but taxing the Corporations who get tax relief in line with everyday UK retailers is perfect sense to me. Lots of local businesses are are struggling with the huge business rates. What message of support are we giving them?? They are being hammered. Quite frankly if MacDonalds said they would close all of their branches if they had to pay higher corporate taxes, I'd probably say see ya, despite knowing the probable job losses.
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    · 16 days ago
    I agree that much of the benefits system needs to be reviewed, it isn't working and no longer fit for purpose. But I do not think that the small minded assault on the motorbility vehicle scheme for example, is the way to effect change. It is a way to disrupt and distract from what else is happening in society such as access to an effecient and effective NHS system. I work with some of the most vulnerable people in our society. Many use the motorbility element for scooters, taxi fares and some for cars. I haven't come accross anyone who can afford the additional upfront cost associated with luxury item cars. I find that I am challenging perceptions about benefit entitlement, ease of access for claimants (because it is not easy!) and a generic hatred that appears to be directed more and more towards people who need PIP. How often do we hear about PIP enabling people to work, enabling people to attend hospital appointments, or the sense of independence the mobility element affords individuals? Good news stories or success stories don't make the news! 

    Perhaps people need to consider why it is called Personal Independence Payment. There is clue there! If the level of bias was directed towards another minority group, it would be classed as a hate crime. But it appears that the sytemamtic lack of care and compassion being shown in our society today, towards individuals, is becoming normalised; and it is this that I find so disturbing. Of course there will always be people who take advantage, we live in a greed fuelled world, but that is certainly not the attitude for the the majority of people who need to rely on help and support. People need to open their eyes, listen to the truth and effect some change, by understanding, learning and challenging perceptions, including our own.   
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      · 10 days ago
      @Lou Because most people are struggling with the cost of living, stagnant wages etc, and they perceive (incorrectly) that the disabled have a 'cushy' life.  The working poor are particularly hostile: many believe in the contributory element of social security (which is a con - NI is merely a tax).  It is, to use Boris Johnson's phrase 'whataboutme'.  
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      · 15 days ago
      @Lou I agree that the State is attempting to demonise us disabled people to save money that is redirected to keep their rich mates in property and super yachts.
      Contrary to the governments mantra of demonisation many people spend years trying to get help for their disabilities and applying for financial help is very difficult. The level of fraud is extremely low, less than 10%, while business tax dodging and fraud is much higher.
      Imagine if business owners were characterised in the same way us disabled people are. There would be a national out cry. And let's not forget the royal family receive millions in public funds which they use to fund businesses that rake in even more money.
      The system is being reorganised to punch down on vulnerable people, ever increasing the gap between rich and poor. Wages no longer pay the rent and the NHS struggles to cope without proper funding. 
      There isn't an island called "Disabled". We're Integrated with friends and family. We need to broaden out our campaign to get all workers/non-workers involved because an attack on one is an attack on us all.
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      · 15 days ago
      @Lou What is missing from the narrative both from the Govt/other parties/the right wing press is that people are not ‘given a luxury car for having mild depression’ but that an exhaustive and exhausting assessment process involving medical evidence is involved and as you say it is not in reality easy to get! We’re not being ‘given’ cars we are using our benefit entitlement (thoroughly assessed) in order to make the payments on a car hire type scheme. 
      Personally I had to use a ‘gift’ from my daughter in order to pay the deposit on my most recent Motability vehicle as I had no remaining savings with which to pay it. Cars are chosen on the basis of what most helps me to accommodate my disability needs. 
      Govt ministers seem to wilfully misrepresent what PIP is - either that or they never read their briefing papers!
      I would not be able to pay separately for the insurance and tax that are currently included in my PIP deduction from my Mobility allowance. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 16 days ago
      @Lou Refreshing, compassionate and totally accurate! The people you work with are fortunate to have you on their side my friend! Thank you
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    · 16 days ago
    Governments can print as much money as they like. They can loan money at extremely low interest rates and pay it off over extremely long periods. So Reeves is talking nonsense and doesn't need to cut benefits.
    Instead, tax the super rich whose wealth is created by UK workers. The gap between rich and poor has never been greater. There's no evidence that the rich are fleeing the UK. They depend on UK workers to feed their greed.
    Reeves is trying to scapegoat disabled people to please her mates in the City. Don't put up with it!

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    · 16 days ago
    shocking, what they don't mention is these so called luxury brands START at £4000 deposit.  priced in such a way that those who claim benefits cannot afford these brands.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 16 days ago
      @Gavin And people who work full time also claim pip and what they do with their money is their business 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 16 days ago
    I don’t understand how paying more tax affects mobility users? While there be more cost to us? Can’t charge more then pip element. Or just reducing grants ? I need hand controls and an auto ramp for my car it costs so much those of us with extra needs are already badly affected. If you can walk you can get mobility car no problem. If you need adaptions then it’s very much hit n miss if they consider you are “worthy” multiple rounds of grants etc  I’m not sure I will qualify again so enjoying adaptions while I have them. This sort thing will just take for those who have biggest hurdle with public transport alredy. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 16 days ago
      @Emily James At the moment the Motability car lease payments are VAT exempt and the Motability car insurance payments are insurance premium tax exempt. VAT would normally be 20% and the insurance premium tax would normally be 12%. If the tax exemption is abolished this money will have to come from somewhere. Normally such taxes are paid by the consumer and collected by the company to hand over to the government. So most likely the Motability Scheme users would see their costs increase. How this effects existing lease agreements I have no idea, I guess it depends on the wording of the lease agreements. If Motability cannot increase the payments made by those with already agreed to lease agreements. Then if the costs will cause Motability to become insolvent or just lose a lot of its reserves/profits I do not know.   

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    · 16 days ago
    I see the government is planning on removing eligibility for UC from those detained in psychiatric hospitals by order of the courts. That is those who the courts have ruled would be a danger to the public if let out of hospital. Who may have committed a crime and been found not responsible due to being mentally ill. So treating them the same as criminals sentenced to prison. This in my opinion promotes the narrative mentally ill = bad person who should be punished rather than unwell person who should be treated. And in my opinion will highlight cases that will increase public fear and prejudice against those with mental illnesses. At a time when the government wants them to find employment and we already have rising disability hate crime.

    And for what purpose it is not going to save much money. So is the purpose to pander to hate and prejudice to help increase public support for wider disability welfare cuts. 
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    · 16 days ago
    It is beneficial for car manufacturers to have vehicles on the scheme, we are not talking about Rolls Royce and Bentleys. If someone has £4k-£8k to spend on a 3 year lease that's their business. The whole point of Pip is that it isn't means tested. Also of the 13 cars on the scheme costing £8k only one of them is a BMW, the others are an Audi, Citroen, Vauxhall, Mazda, Cupra, Polestar, and Hyundai. Are they going to be removed as well? The most expensive Mercedes is £3999. And to those who say that motability cars should be the most basic models, many base models now have advanced payments so we may as well have the option to spend a bit more and get something nicer or with features that we need. Forcing claimants to order cheap base models will just create huge backlogs which will push prices up for everyone.
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    · 16 days ago
    The 🇬🇧British Government are not your Friend.. They are after the Pensioners, and Disabled..penny pinching be ready for the Budget 2025 Wednesday NOV 26th..
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