The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill

On Wednesday evening, I took the difficult decision to vote against the Government’s welfare legislation, The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, at its Third Reading in the House of Commons.

From the outset, I have been clear that my concerns are not a defence of the status quo. Our welfare system is in need of reform. However, many of the proposals in the original Bill affected people who are already in work and rely on support to remain there because of illness or disability. These individuals are not avoiding work—they are managing complex, often fluctuating health conditions while trying to maintain their independence.

Since its original introduction, there have been many positive changes to the Bill, including the complete removal of the predetermined changes to PIP eligibility. Instead, these changes will now wait for the Timms review, which will be completed in genuine co-production with disabled groups. Yet, despite these positive changes, campaigned for and won by my colleague Marie Tidball MP, I still remain concerned about proposed changes to the higher health component of Universal Credit.

Many people across Redditch and the Villages live with conditions like Parkinson’s and MS—illnesses that can be unpredictable and challenging. In my own family, I have seen the devastating impact of these cruel diseases. That is why I sponsored an amendment aimed at enshrining support for those with fluctuating conditions.

On Wednesday, I voted for amendments that sought to address these concerns. Sadly, these were defeated and not added into the Bill, and so I felt I could not support the legislation as it stood.

Moving forward, the Government has committed to genuine co-production with disabled people’s organisations through Sir Stephen Timms’s upcoming review. This is welcome, but the review will require careful scrutiny to ensure meaningful change.

Finally, I want to thank the many residents who shared their stories with me. Your voices, alongside local advocacy groups, and seeing the impact on the ground, helped shape my decision. As I said during the general election campaign, I would always be prepared to vote against my own party if I felt we hadn’t got everything right.