Red tape swept away in biggest financial regulation reforms in a decade to boost homeownership and put more money into people’s pockets through the Government’s Plan for Change.
Nationwide set to widen access to its ‘Helping Hand’ mortgage from Wednesday, supporting 10,000 extra first-time buyers thanks to Chancellor’s Leeds Reforms.
Reeves: Benefits of a thriving finance sector will be felt all over Britain
The Chancellor is expected to announce the biggest set of reforms to financial regulation in a decade at a summit of top finance executives in Leeds tonight as part of the Government’s mission to kick start economic growth and support more first-time buyers.
Red tape holding back the competitiveness of the UK financial sector will be swept away under the Leeds Reforms, addressing long-standing industry complaints.
The changes will see Britain become the top destination for finance firms over the next decade, attracting inward investment from across the globe to create good, skilled jobs around the country.
Prospective homeowners will be given a leg up onto the housing ladder under the plans, with regulators acting on the Chancellor’s push to regulate for growth.
More mortgages will be available at over 4.5 times a buyer’s income following Bank of England recommendations that some banks and building societies offer more high loan-to-income mortgages – creating up to 36,000 additional mortgages for first-time buyers over the first year.
This change means that Nationwide will be able to make its popular ‘Helping Hand’ mortgage available to people with lower incomes. From Wednesday, eligible first-time buyers can apply for the mortgage with a £30,000 salary, down from £35,000, and joint applicants with a £50,000 combined salary – down from £55,000. This will support an additional 10,000 first-time buyers each year.
This comes alongside the creation of a permanent mortgage guarantee scheme, delivering on a Manifesto commitment and ensuring high loan-to-value mortgages continue to be available in times of uncertainty, as well as a review of Financial Conduct Authority lending rules that could allow a prospective buyers’ record of paying rent on time to show they can afford mortgage repayments.
The reforms will be unveiled in Leeds ahead of the Chancellor’s Mansion House speech on Tuesday evening.
Speaking in the City of London, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves is expected to say:“This is the foundation of an economy, and a country, that is more active and more confident.
“Where people and businesses look to the future and talk about hope about opportunity.
“Assured of their own capability, and of the ability of our country to boldly face the challenges that lie ahead.
“And certain of the prize if they succeed.
“Of higher wages and higher living standards.
“The renewal of Britain in every home and every high street.
“To put it simply: a Britain that is better off.
She will add on homeownership:
“I welcome the recent changes the Financial Policy Committee has announced to the loan-to-income limit on mortgage lending, which the PRA and FCA are implementing immediately.
“With an instant impact for consumers, such as Nationwide offering its ‘Helping Hand’ mortgage to more first time-buyers – supporting an additional 10,000 each year.
She will conclude:
“Today, I have placed financial services at the heart of the government’s growth mission.
“Recognising that Britain cannot succeed and meet its growth ambitions without a financial services sector that is fighting fit and thriving. …
“And I have been clear on the benefits that that will drive.
“With a ripple effect that will drive investment in all sectors of our economy and put pounds in the pockets of working people.”
Young people with experience of being out of education, employment and training will help shape policy as part of a new Youth Guarantee Advisory Panel in England
New panel of young people to advise the Government on shaping employment support for the next generation launched in Youth Employment Week.
Group identifies mental health challenges and a lack of focus on apprenticeships in schools as some of the biggest barriers to getting into work or training.
Panel marks major milestone in building the Youth Guarantee to give every 18-21-year-old the chance to earn or learn and break down barriers to opportunity as part of the Plan for Change.
Young people with experience of being out of education, employment and training will help shape policy as part of a new Youth Guarantee Advisory Panel.
The panel, made up of 17 young people aged 18 to 24, will regularly meet to discuss the biggest barriers they face to building their careers and advise what can be done to break these down.
It comes as the latest data shows one in eight young people are currently not in education, employment or training – demonstrating the urgent need for reform to ensure the next generation get the support they need to get on in work and in life.
Officially launched in Youth Employment Week, the step to put young people’s voices at the heart of decision-making marks another major milestone in building the UK Government’s Youth Guarantee to ensure all 18-to-21-year-olds in England get the chance to earn or learn.
Panel members were recruited with the help of our partners, Youth Futures Foundation and Youth Employment UK. These key organisations support the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education to run the sessions.
Early insight from the panel has found that some of the most significant obstacles include mental health challenges and an overemphasis in school on UCAS applications instead of tailored careers advice, including alternative options like apprenticeships and training. Lack of public transport and access to digital tools and devices have also been raised as barriers.
The Government has already started making changes to address these challenges – including reforming the apprenticeship system, providing access to mental health support in every school and college and maintaining the £3 bus fare cap on single bus fares in England outside of London.
This comes alongside wider Get Britain Working reforms to transform Jobcentres and roll out eight Youth Guarantee trailblazers across England to test and deliver targeted skills and employment support for young people.
All views shared in the panel meetings will go on to inform policy to ensure that the Youth Guarantee best serves young people.
Giving every young person the best start in life is central to the Government’s mission to break down barriers to opportunity in every part of the country as part of the Plan for Change.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: “Young people know better than anyone the challenges they face – and the support they need to succeed.
“That’s why their voices will shape how we will deliver a Youth Guarantee that truly works, opening up real opportunities for every 18-to-21-year-old to be in work, training or education.
“Backed by our £45 million investment in targeted youth employment support, this is about unlocking potential, tackling inequality and transforming lives.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “For too long, young people have been talked down to and had their opinions dismissed. The Youth Advisory Panel’s contributions so far have been incredibly insightful, and we are already starting to implement some of their suggestions.
“We have started to reform the apprenticeship system, reprioritising funding to young people, cutting red tape to make it easier to start or complete an apprenticeship and introducing foundation apprenticeships to give young people a route into careers in critical sectors.
“We are also committed to improving careers advice, as well as delivering two weeks’ worth of work experience for every secondary school pupil and providing access to mental health support in every school and college.
“We will ensure the Youth Advisory Panel’s views continue to be taken into account as we continue to break down barriers to opportunity to help young people thrive through our Plan for Change.”
Barry Fletcher, CEO, Youth Futures Foundation and Laura-Jane Rawlings MBE, CEO, Youth Employment UK said: “We are proud to jointly support the launch of the Youth Guarantee Advisory Panel and welcome the decision by the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education to involve young people from the outset in the design of this policy.
“This partnership is about ensuring young people have a meaningful role in shaping the Youth Guarantee, and it’s encouraging that trailblazers are actively exploring how to do this locally.
“Panel members are already highlighting barriers to education and employment and offering critical insights into the support young people need to succeed.
“We look forward to continuing this work to build a system that works for all young people, regardless of their background or circumstances.”
Shana Fatahali, Youth Advisory Panel member and Future Voices Group Ambassador, Youth Futures Foundation said: “It has been empowering to be a member of the Youth Guarantee Youth Advisory Panel.
“I’ve had the opportunity to make connections with other young people who share my passion for creating a better future. Since we are the ones using the system, we are aware of its challenges and where it needs to be improved. For this reason, youth voices are important.
“I’m honoured to be a member of an organisation that is influencing actual decisions and introducing alternative perspectives. I can’t wait to keep advocating for a system that genuinely hears, involves, and supports all youth.”
Brewster, Youth Ambassador, Youth Employment UK said: “During the time I have spent with the Youth Advisory Panel, it has been amazing to see others engage in the activities and discussions.
“I really love how committed my fellow Youth Ambassadors, Youth Employment UK, Youth Futures Foundations, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education are to change things for the better for the youth.
“I’m really proud to see this happening with my own eyes. I can’t wait to see what things will happen that will positively affect young people. I can’t wait to learn more and work towards making a positive difference to young people.’’
In May, the Government officially launched eight Youth Guarantee trailblazers across England.
Backed by £45 million, the trailblazers are testing a new form of local delivery, matching young people to local job or training opportunities. The trailblazers will provide all-important learnings to inform the national roll-out of the programme.
This comes alongside record investment in skills and apprenticeships, providing a more personalised system for employers and those looking for work.
The Westminster Government has also taken further action to boost employment and drive-up living standards through boosting the National Living Wage, creating more secure jobs through the Employment Rights Bill and overhauling jobcentres as part of the Get Britain Working White Paper.
Further information
The Youth Guarantee Advisory Panel has held some early sessions and will meet every six to eight weeks moving forward.
Officials from DWP and DfE may test ideas related to the development of the Youth Guarantee to ensure the policy effectively answers the needs of young people today.
Insights will be fed back to relevant senior officials and ministers after sessions.
The eight youth trailblazers are in: Liverpool, West Midlands, Tees Valley, East Midlands, West of England, and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough and two in London.
The Youth Guarantee is an England only initiative as Skills, Education and Employment support are devolved in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
We are working closely with the devolved governments to share experiences and lessons learned.
Services supporting victims and survivors of domestic abuse should be resourced to be easy to access and able to provide joined-up and consistent access to advice and information on financial support, according to MSPs.
Holyrood’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee has today released a new report that outlines how people who leave an abusive relationship can be better protected from severe financial implications.
Some domestic abusers restrict a person’s ability to manage their finances. This can involve stopping a victim from opening a bank account, controlling how they use their income, preventing them from working or being in education, or building up debt in a victim’s name. This is known as economic abuse.
In its inquiry, the Committee heard widespread evidence about the barriers faced by victims and survivors trying to access support. Challenges included generic information, a lack of trauma-informed financial advice and “England-centric” online information.
While the Committee appreciated that the Scottish Government provides funding for advice on income maximisation and its Equally Safe strategy to address violence against women and girls, the feedback it heard made it clear that support provided by advice services was vital.
Additionally, the Committee calls for more consistent support from local authorities, asking for the Scottish Government to work with COSLA to develop a single point of contact. Without this, victims and survivors will continue to face significant challenges to accessing advice on problems relating to housing, benefits and legal advice.
The Committee’s report also asks for an update on the Scottish Government’s Fund to Leave pilot which several witnesses cited as a valuable resource when leaving an abusive relationship and before receiving a decision on eligibility for social security.
Collette Stevenson MSP, Convener of the Social Justice and Social Security Committee, said: “The impact and cost of leaving an abusive relationship can be absolutely devastating and it is critical that victims and survivors can access advice and support quickly and easily.
“Our report calls for the Scottish Government to strengthen and standardise the support that is available to people. We heard about some excellent work that exists, but it is inconsistent and not always easy to find, which has created barriers for people in horrendously stressful situations.
“We’d like to thank everyone who shared their views with us during this inquiry, particularly the members of Scottish Women’s Aid’s Survivor Reference Group and the staff at Financially Included who spoke so powerfully.”
The outlook for the Scottish and UK economies has weakened, with growth now expected to remain sluggish through the rest of 2025.
In its latest quarterly Economic Commentary, the Institute has downgraded its forecasts for Scottish economic growth to 0.8% in 2025 and 1% in 2026.
This comes despite more upbeat projections from both the Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC) and the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which have recently upgraded their expectations for 2026 whilst similarly revising down their GDP forecasts for 2025.
Economic growth is now slowing compared to the start of the year and inflation has also edged up to 3.4%, after staying below 3% throughout 2024.
The business environment is also showing signs of strain, with companies reporting cutting back on activities in the first quarter compared to last year, plagued by rises in National Insurance Contributions, which took effect in April, alongside uncertainty surrounding President Trump’s trade tariffs. Indeed, pay growth and employee numbers are down, signalling potential weaknesses in the labour market.
The current state of the economy was not unexpected: Institute Director Professor Mairi Spowage warned of turbulent and uncertain conditions which could last throughout the year in the previous commentary.
Professor Spowage said: “After a strong start to the year, the Scottish economy has faltered in March and April and is essentially the same size in real terms as it was six months ago.
“Unfortunately, the wider business environment and global events are still taking a toll on businesses and consumers, which is having a dampening effect on spending and business investment.”
In addition to the latest economic analysis, the commentary provides an overview of Universal Credit and Legacy Benefits in Scotland, a key element of the nation’s social security system, and summarises key takeaways from June’s spending review and medium-term financial strategy.
Dr Joao Sousa, Deputy Director of the Institute, said: “The fiscal announcements by both governments suggest that there are significant economic challenges in the years and months to come for the UK and Scottish Governments.
“Particularly from 2027-28 onwards, the choices of Government look to become more difficult. Of course, this is the role of the Government in power: but the difficulties of the UK Government this week show that events can quickly derail its plans.”
A new inquiry will explore the provision of children’s TV and video content in the UK and what can be done to ensure future generations continue to have access to high-quality British-made programming.
Research from Ofcom shows a structural shift in the viewing habits of young people, with television viewing by children dropping and YouTube now the most used app or site by children of all ages, with 88% of 3 to 17-year-olds using it last year.
The changing ways in which audience consume TV and video, has made it more challenging for public service broadcasters to make original TV content for children and for it to be found. This has a knock-on effect for those in our creative industries who want to make quality UK TV and video for children.
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee inquiry will therefore examine how to ensure those making original high-quality content can continue and how it can be made easier to find it online.
It will also explore issues relating to parental control of online content, the potential positive and negative effects of how children watch TV and video content on their health and development, and wider issues relating to the sector’s contribution to the economy and its importance to the UK’s cultural identity.
Chair of the CMS Committee, Dame Caroline Dinenage MP, said: “Children’s viewing habits have come a long way, but whether they watch through a smart TV or a tablet, there is still demand for good quality TV and video for children.
“We all want young people to have access to a range of programming, so in addition to cartoons, they also see drama and factual programmes. We want them to be able to be educated and inspired, as well as entertained.
“Changes to the media landscape, particularly the shift in viewing to YouTube, pose huge challenges for the future of children’s programming and the continued production of original content by our public service broadcasters.
“We want to know what prominence means for programmes made for children in the future world of smart TVs, streaming, video sharing platforms and endless choice.
“We have a proud history of high-quality children’s television in the UK. Our inquiry will be showcasing the contribution the sector makes to both our culture and economy and how we can best ensure that content designed for children in all its forms continues to both educate and entertain.”
Terms of reference
The Committee is inviting written submissions in response to the following questions:
Children’s TV and video content in the UK
Who is commissioning and making original, high-quality, TV and video content for children and young audiences in the UK?
How can they be best supported to continue to make more?
How does the range of content and genres for children vary between that provided by public service media, subscription channels, and both short- and long-form video sharing platforms?
Which audiences, by age or other characteristic, are currently being underserved?
How can we increase the amount of news and factual programming made for children on TV and online?
Finding children’s TV and video content online
How can it be made easier to find original, high-quality, TV and video content for children online?
How can the attribution of public service children’s content on video sharing platforms be improved?
How effective are the tools available for parents to control what children are watching on public service media, subscription channels, video sharing platforms?
Health and child development
What evidence is there that the TV and video content that children watch, and how they watch it, can contribute:
Positively to their health, learning and development?
Negatively to their health, learning and development?
Wider benefits of children’s TV
How does children’s TV made in the UK contribute to:
Earlier in June, we marked the 40th anniversary of Volunteers’ Week 2025, a moment to celebrate the extraordinary impact of volunteers across Scotland. From 2 to 8 June, organisations, communities and individuals came together to recognise the essential role volunteers play in shaping a more compassionate and connected society (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURY MSP).
Behind every community hub, crisis helpline and mentoring programme in Scotland, there is a volunteer quietly making a difference.
This year’s campaign came at a critical time. Volunteering rates, particularly in Edinburgh and across Lothian, have seen a worrying decline. They are down around 8 per cent since 2019, as a result of pandemic disruptions, the rising cost of living and reduced funding for volunteer support programmes. Yet across food banks, youth services and elderly care, the calls for help continue to rise. The need for volunteers has never been greater.
In response, Inspiring Scotland commissioned Catalysts for Change, a new report exploring what motivates people to volunteer, the barriers they face, and how Scotland’s volunteering landscape can evolve. The report was launched during Volunteers’ Week and shared with the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Volunteering, offering practical and timely recommendations to strengthen recruitment, engagement and retention.
Two of Inspiring Scotland’s initiatives bring this work to life. The Specialist Volunteer Network brings together professionals who offer their time and expertise to support charities and community organisations.
Meanwhile, Intandem, a mentoring programme for care-experienced young people, is entirely powered by volunteer mentors. Last year alone, more than 280 volunteers provided consistent weekly support to young people navigating life in or on the edge of the care system.
During the most recent Cross-Party Group meeting, several organisations spoke about the far-reaching benefits of volunteering for both communities and individual wellbeing. Vintage Vibes, a project combatting loneliness among Edinburgh’s older population, matches isolated individuals with committed volunteers. One pairing, Natalia and Maja, shared the joy, connection and sense of purpose their weekly visits bring to both their lives.
Similarly, the RNLI, where volunteers fill 97 per cent of frontline roles, emphasised how life-saving work in schools and coastal communities depends on public goodwill and civic action.
One volunteer, Rachel, described how volunteering gave her confidence, a sense of community, and a renewed sense of direction, something that positively influenced her career. It is proof that volunteering may begin as an act of giving, but it often gives you so much more in return.
While Volunteers’ Week is a national moment of recognition, the value of volunteering is felt year-round. Whether by offering time, skills or simply a listening ear, volunteers form the backbone of Scotland’s social infrastructure. From mentoring teens to delivering meals to vulnerable neighbours, their quiet work touches every corner of our society.
As Co-Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Volunteering, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who dedicates their time to supporting others.
But appreciation alone is not enough. We must make it easier for people to get involved by offering more flexible opportunities, investing in local initiatives, and creating pathways that remove barriers to participation.
By working together, we can rebuild a thriving culture of volunteering and ensure that no community is left behind.
The Scottish Government must match recognition with meaningful investment, stronger coordination, and long-term policy support to help volunteering thrive across the country.
You can also read the full Inspiring Scotland report: Catalysts for Change: Understanding the motivations of volunteers in Scotland (new report published)
First Minister marks lives given in public service
First Minister John Swinney has paid tribute to the eight Scottish recipients of The Elizabeth Emblem.
The emblem is awarded posthumously to family members of those who died in public service. It is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which recognises members of the UK Armed Forces who died in action or a terrorist attack.
The First Minister said: “I warmly welcome the awarding of The Elizabeth Emblem to these individuals and their families.
“This recognition enables us to remember their sacrifice and their lives dedicated to public service. They made Scotland a better place for us all and we continue to honour their memory.”
The Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray said: “I pay tribute to all of those Scots who have been recognised today. Every one of these brave public servants gave their life to protect others. They are people who stepped forward when most of us would step back, and they paid the ultimate price.
“I am particularly pleased that Dunblane teacher Gwen Mayor has been recognised. No-one will ever forget the horror of the shooting at Dunblane Primary School in 1996, when Mrs Mayor was killed trying to protect her pupils.
“I hope that the families of all those recognised will take some comfort in knowing that their loved ones, and their service, has not been forgotten.”
The family of Dunblane Primary School teacher Gwen Mayor including her husband Rodney Mayor said: “As a family we are extremely proud and honoured to be receiving this award on behalf of Gwen. We always believed her actions that day deserved more recognition.
“You would have to have known Gwen to know that she would have done whatever trying to protect the children in her care. She paid the ultimate price for that commitment. Finally we now feel that she has been honoured for what happened that day.”
The full list of Scottish recipients of The Elizabeth Emblem are:
Joseph Stewart Drake, a Constable with Stirling and Clackmannan Constabulary. He died on 11 August 1967 when a stolen lorry intentionally struck his car at Dennyloanhead as he tried to intercept it.
Gwen Mayor, Primary 1 teacher at Dunblane Primary School died on 13 March 1996 alongside 15 of her pupils when a gunman entered the school.
Rodney (Rod) Moore, a retired NHS paramedic from Falkirk with 40 years’ service, rejoined the Scottish Ambulance Service to support its Covid-19 response and died on 21 November 2020 having contracted coronavirus.
Roderick Nicolson, a Scottish Fire & Rescue Service firefighter died at Perth Harbour on 4 December 1995. He was attempting to rescue workers who became trapped in a silo filled with five tonnes of sodium carbonate ash.
Richard Paul North, a Constable with Tayside Police died on 17 March 1987. He was on duty driving a marked police patrol car when it collided with another vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was under the influence of drink and drugs.
William Oliver of the Glasgow Salvage Corps died at the Cheapside Street whisky bond fire on 28 March 1960. He was instantly killed alongside 18 others when some casks ruptured causing a massive boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion.
Ewan Williamson, a Scottish Fire & Rescue Service firefighter with Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service. He became trapped in a fire at the Balmoral Bar public house in Edinburgh and died on 12 July 2009.
Alastair Soutar, of HM Customs and Excise died of his injuries on 29 July 1996 after he was crushed between ‘The Sentinel’ HM Customs and Excise vessel and the ‘Ocean Jubilee’ smugglers vessel. Mr Soutar, from Dundee, was participating in Operation Balvenie to apprehend drug smugglers.
More work is needed if the Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill proceeds to the next stage of the legislative process. This is the recommendation in a new report issued by Holyrood’s Rural Affairs & Islands Committee.
Publishing its Stage 1 report, the Committee says that it supports the general principles of the Bill. However, should the Bill progress to the next stage, the Committee sets out areas for reconsideration and development.
The Committee says that, although the creation of a specific statutory offence of dog theft would recognise that dogs are sentient beings and reflect the impact on animal welfare, there is no clear evidence to suggest that a statutory offence would be used more in practice than the existing common law.
In addition, without a dedicated budget for raising awareness of the statutory offence, and with similar penalties as are currently available for the existing offence, the Committee say it is unlikely to act as a strong deterrent.
The report also says that making the theft of an assistance dog an aggravated crime does not seem a ‘proportionate provision’. To date, no instances of dog theft have been reported, and the court system can already consider the impact of any theft, if a case does come to court.
The Committee recommends however that, if the proposed aggravation proceeds to Stage 2, a broader definition for dogs providing support and assistance, for example working farm dogs, should be included.
The Committee says that it does not support allowing victims of dog theft to make victim statements to the court.
During scrutiny, stakeholders said that courts already consider the impact of crimes on victims and that providing this opportunity to victims of dog theft, would create an anomaly with other crimes which do not allow victim support statements.
Instead, the Committee asks the Scottish Government to include dog theft within its broader commitment to expand the range of offences where victim statements are allowed.
Committee Convener, Finlay Carson MSP, said;“This is a well-intentioned Bill which merits our support at this stage in the legislative process. We agree that dog theft is a terrible crime, and that appropriate legislation should be in place to reflect this.
“However, evidence provided to us during our scrutiny suggests that many of the Bill provisions are already available within the current court system and procedures. It’s important to ensure legislation and enforcement procedures do not create untended consequences or further bureaucratic burdens.
“It’s now for the Scottish Parliament to consider the reservations we have set out in our report and to decide the best route forward.”
MPs voted by 335 votes to 260 to give the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill their initial backing last night after rebel Labour MPs forced further concessions from the government.
The Government, gearing a humiliating defeat, said it would pause changes to PIP until a review has been carried out.
Despite the concessions, 49 Labour MPs, including local North and Leith MP Tracy Gilbert, voted against their government.
Ms Gilbert was one of only three Scottish Labour MPs to oppose the Bill.
It was chaotic, but campaigners today forced the govt to postpone PIP cuts from their welfare bill.
— Andy McDonald MP for Middlesbrough & Thornaby East (@AndyMcDonaldMP) July 1, 2025
45 MPs – 18 of these Labour – abstained or did not vote.
Labour Campaign for Socialism issued a statement after the vote:
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said: “This is an utter capitulation.Labour’s welfare bill is now a TOTAL waste of time. It effectively saves £0, helps no one into work, and does NOT control spending. It’s pointless.”
Ms Badenoch said that the Starmer government should ‘ditch the bill, do their homework, and come back with something serious’.
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney said: “Labour’s behaviour towards people with disabilities is appalling.
“The chaos that Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have presided over has shown total contempt for the vulnerable. And Anas Sarwar has supported them all the way. Westminster is failing. Scotland deserves better.”
Anti-poverty campaign group Trussell said: ‘The government’s bill to cut disabled people’s social security is still proceeding, but with all cuts to PIP now set to be REMOVED. We applaud the power of disabled people, MPs, and community organisations like food banks who have tirelessly raised their voices and stood up for future of disabled people
‘The improvements to the bill agreed in recent days are the right thing to do and will protect hundreds of thousands of disabled people from being forced into severe hardship.
‘This bill should never have come before MPs. This was a chaotic and upsetting process that could have been avoided had this government stuck to its commitments to disabled people.
‘Deep cuts to Universal Credit still stand, and when MPs look at the amended Bill, they must ensure disabled people are protected from severe hardship ahead of their final vote next week. More than three quarters of people claiming Universal Credit and disability benefits have gone without essentials in the last six months.
‘We now have an opportunity to work together to build a more compassionate, effective, and fair system of social security for disabled people, and move towards a future without the need for food banks.’
