Disabled People’s Organisations Secure Important—but Partial—Victory Against Damaging Welfare Reforms

In recent weeks, Disabled people across the UK faced significant anxiety following the Government’s announcement of proposed welfare reforms, leading to a major surge in worried and distressed calls to Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) like WECIL. The original proposals outlined by the Labour Government included devastating cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP), the abolition of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), and substantial reductions to the Universal Credit (UC) Health Element. These measures threatened to plunge hundreds of thousands of Disabled people into deeper poverty, severely impact their health and independence, and overwhelm already overstretched local services.

Initially, the proposed reforms aimed to achieve an annual spending reduction of approximately £5 billion through:

• Removing the daily living component of PIP from approximately 370,000 people, which is around 10% of existing claimants.
• Excluding around 430,000 future PIP applicants.
• Reducing support by approximately £3,000 annually for 730,000 new UC claimants.
• Eliminating the Universal Credit Health Element entirely for young Disabled people under 22, dramatically increasing their vulnerability to poverty and exclusion.

The scale of these cuts sparked widespread fear and alarm, leading to a mobilisation among Disabled people on a scale rarely seen in recent times. Large-scale protests in Whitehall on 26th March and Parliament Square on 30th June each saw over 1,000 Disabled people and allies gather to express their determined opposition to the harmful proposals. Regional protests in cities such as Newcastle, Cardiff, and Norfolk also attracted approximately 100 protesters each. Concurrently, Disabled people actively coordinated through Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) to effectively challenge the government and advocate for their rights.

DPOs, including WECIL, collaborated and organised together, complementing our independent efforts with coordinated joint action. WECIL actively worked with the Bristol DPO Network—which includes DPOs such as Bristol Disability Equality Forum, Bristol Reclaiming Independent Living and Bristol Centre for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People—and with DPO Forum England, launching immediate and coordinated campaigns demanding a reversal of these cuts. Actions included:

• Extensive lobbying efforts and targeted communications to MPs, clearly detailing the devastating human impact of the proposed changes. WECIL directly wrote to every MP in our service area:
  • Bristol
    • Carla Denyer MP – Bristol Central (Green Party)
    • Kerry McCarthy MP – Bristol East (Labour)
    • Damien Egan MP – Bristol North East (Labour)
    • Darren Jones MP – Bristol North West (Labour)
    • Karin Smyth MP – Bristol South (Labour)
  • South Gloucestershire
    • Claire Hazelgrove MP – Filton and Bradley Stoke (Labour)
    • Claire Young MP – Thornbury and Yate (Liberal Democrat)
  • North Somerset
    • Sadik Al-Hassan MP – North Somerset (Labour)
    • Dan Aldridge MP – Weston-super-Mare (Labour)
    • Tessa Munt MP – Wells and Mendip Hills (Liberal Democrat)
  • Bath and North East Somerset
    • Wera Hobhouse MP – Bath (Liberal Democrat)
    • Dan Norris MP – North East Somerset and Hanham (Labour)
    • Anna Sabine MP – Frome and East Somerset (Liberal Democrat)
• WECIL also sent briefings to several relevant All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs).
• Public protests and demonstrations outside Parliament, coordinated by Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) and supported by broader DPO networks.
• Joint statements condemning the inadequate and inaccessible consultation process for the Government’s “Pathways to Work” Green Paper, co-signed by 23 prominent organisations, including WECIL.
• WECIL engaged directly with MPs and influential figures, notably former Shadow Disability Minister Vicky Foxcroft, who resigned from her Chief Whip ministerial position in protest against the proposals. In cooperation with the Bristol DPO Network, we also met with supportive local MPs, including Carla Denyer.

WECIL received direct responses from MPs Dan Norris, Darren Jones, Kerry McCarthy, and from Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP, Minister of State for Social Security and Disability. Following his arrest in April 2025 on serious allegations, Dan Norris was suspended from the Labour Party and has been operating as an Independent MP while the investigation remains ongoing.

Additionally, WECIL was a co-signatory to a letter from DPO Forum England to the Minister for the Department for Work and Pensions, expressing significant concerns about the inadequate consultation for the Pathways to Work Green Paper. WECIL actively encouraged our members to respond to this consultation by providing accessible information on how to participate, despite simultaneously challenging the legitimacy of the consultation itself, highlighting that it failed to consult on its most impactful measures and did not produce timely Easy Read versions.

This robust advocacy significantly influenced political discourse and contributed directly to the largest rebellions seen under Keir Starmer’s leadership, with 120 Labour MPs initially signing a reasoned amendment against the bill.

Key Concessions Achieved

Faced with immense internal pressure, the Government announced significant concessions in the early hours of Tuesday, 1 July 2025, just before the second parliamentary reading of the welfare reform bill later that same day:

• Protection for 3.5 million existing PIP and Universal Credit Health Element recipients.
• Suspension of the controversial “four-point rule,” which would have disqualified new PIP claimants unable to independently wash below the waist, pending further review.
• Commitment to a comprehensive review (TIMS review) of PIP assessments with co-production from Disabled people’s groups.
• An accelerated £1 billion employment support fund, though details remain vague and insufficiently outlined.

These concessions represent significant achievements for DPOs, demonstrating the power and influence of collective advocacy by Disabled people.

Ongoing Concerns and Remaining Harms

Despite these important successes, significant issues remain:

• A “two-tier” welfare system is emerging, disproportionately disadvantaging new claimants from November 2026 onwards.
• Future UC health claimants remain at risk, potentially losing £3,000 per year.
• Grave concerns persist regarding a potential “work trap,” where existing claimants encouraged into employment could subsequently lose protected status if forced to return to UC.
• Persistent issues with inadequate consultation processes and accessible communications by the Government continue to undermine meaningful engagement by Disabled communities.

Voices from Disabled People’s Organisations

Disability Rights UK’s Fazileh Hadi expressed cautious pride in the campaign’s achievements but emphasised lingering mistrust and uncertainty about the future impact of the concessions. Similarly, Scope highlighted the unnecessary distress caused by poor initial consultations. Mikey Earhart of Disability Rights UK articulated widespread disappointment, pointing out that the “two-tier” system remains fundamentally unfair.

Former Shadow Disability Minister Vicky Foxcroft’s principled resignation was widely applauded. Disabled MPs Marie Tidball and Olivia Blake delivered impassioned speeches, significantly galvanising political opposition. Labour MP Ian Byrne, a vocal advocate for Disabled people’s rights, maintained steadfast criticism, highlighting serious deficiencies in detail and consultation.

WECIL played an active role throughout, engaging frequently with MPs, co-signing critical letters such as the DPO Forum’s letter to Liz Kendall MP, and responding robustly to constituents’ fears and concerns.

The regional impact of the initial proposals and ongoing uncertainties continue to significantly burden local support services. WECIL has seen a marked increase in distress calls and queries, clearly indicating the severe local consequences of these policies. Continued advocacy remains critical, particularly regarding the unresolved “work trap” and clarification on employment support fund allocations.

This recent experience vividly demonstrates the incredible strength and power of Disabled people’s collective voices. The successes achieved through mass mobilisation and advocacy remind us that meaningful change is possible when Disabled people unite, protest, and demand justice. Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs), like WECIL, emerged from activist coalitions such as the Avon Coalition of Disabled People, whose relentless campaigns in the 1990s secured critical rights, including the Disability Discrimination Act (now part of the Equalities Act) and the Care Act. Following these landmark victories, many of these groups evolved into formal Centres for Independent Living to ensure Disabled people could access and fully benefit from their hard-won rights.

However, the struggle for justice is far from over. Despite recent concessions, significant concerns remain—including the creation of a two-tier welfare system and the risk of a ‘work trap’ where existing claimants could lose protections by attempting employment. These unresolved issues highlight the critical need for ongoing vigilance, advocacy, and collective action. We urge all Disabled people—and our allies—to continue raising their voices, participating actively in protests, and most importantly, becoming involved in your local DPO. WECIL warmly invites you to join our community by becoming a member at https://wkf.ms/4iaKkoJ (or by contacting [email protected] or calling 0117 947 9911 if this form is inaccessible to you) and to consider further shaping our future by becoming a Trustee (see https://wecil.org.uk/contact/trustee-recruitment/).

Together, let’s continue advocating, continue protesting, and continue building power in our movement to achieve lasting justice, independence, and equality.