Labour have issued deeply misleading claims about the effects on poverty of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.  They claim that the amended bill will result in 50,000 people being in poverty by 2029/30, but the reality is that 100,000 more children and working age people will be forced into poverty. 

In it’s latest assessment of the impact of the bill on poverty, now that the personal independence (PIP) 4-point rule is to be dropped, Labour calculates that 50,000 fewer individuals will be in poverty  as a result of the bill.

This is hard to align with common sense, given that one of the effects of the bill is to almost halve the health element payable to future claimants from April 2026.  The increase in the standard rate, on the other hand, is very small.

However, it makes more sense when account is taken of the fact that Labour is including in its assessment 150,000 people who will be lifted out of poverty as a result of “reversing the previous government’s planned changes to the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) descriptors”.

The previous Conservative government planned to make the WCA harsher, particularly by making the criteria for substantial risk much harder to meet for claimants with mental health conditions.

But its changes to the WCA were never enacted, due to the election. So nobody was placed into poverty as a result of the changes, because they never happened, and nobody can be lifted out of poverty as a result of reversing them.  It is an entirely statistical and semantic sleight of hand.

So, removing that bogus 150,000 from the calculation suggests that Labour’s changes will actually mean that in 2029/30, 100,00 more children and adults will have been forced into poverty as a result of Labour’s “rebalancing” of universal credit.

Try explaining that to your MP by tomorrow afternoon.

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    · 6 hours ago
    "However, it makes more sense when account is taken of the fact that Labour is including in its assessment 150,000 people who will be lifted out of poverty as a result of “reversing the previous government’s planned changes to the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) descriptors”.

    The previous Conservative government planned to make the WCA harsher, particularly by making the criteria for substantial risk much harder to meet for claimants with mental health conditions.

    But its changes to the WCA were never enacted, due to the election. So nobody was placed into poverty as a result of the changes, because they never happened, and nobody can be lifted out of poverty as a result of reversing them. It is an entirely statistical and semantic sleight of hand."

    Unfortunately, even Marie Tidball seems to have fallen for this trick, judging by her speech today.  
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    · 10 hours ago
    Sadly it's a forgone conclusion, always was, we the disabled and mentally ill don't count in the UK, we are expendable and hated, the government, the press and an the vast majority don't care if we live or die, all that matters is the rich who control what the government do and say. It is a hate crime that no one will do anything about. 
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    · 11 hours ago
    This is and will always be my advice to all. Register to vote and if need be register to postal vote. Become a political force by doing so and vote accordingly. Do not wallow in apathy as that is what they want to knock the wind out of your sails. Rise up and be counted and use your vote to bring in the change you want. Make sure everyone near and dear to you understand this that this is not just for today's disabled but is also for tomorrows disabled and sick which could be them!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 5 hours ago
      @James The only party that would maybe be on our side would be the liberal democrats. The vote is always between the conservatives and labour the others don't get a look in. Although Reform are gaining some popularity they would be against us too. But any party other than the lib Dems would treat us even worse than what we have now.  I can't see me voting again, I just don't see the point anymore. I don't trust any of them. 😔
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 7 hours ago
      @James And how is that working for you and the rest of us? 

      This thought prosses it what keeps the status quo, what keeps us all down and nothing ever improves for the people at the bottom of society. We vote the same lying sociopaths in each time from different political parties who then sell us down the river. As democracy stands at this point in time is an illusion and until we are able to remove this current system, King, State, church and the billionaires who control them nothing will ever change. Or am I conspiracy theorist's who only views the world through scepticism or should I have rose tinted glasses and believe in equality for all is what they want?  Shall we examine how those two aspects are playing out? 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 9 hours ago
      @James Well said James . Every one gets to  their personal limit and has to take time out but the issues are still there when you come back again to keep on doing what we can 
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      · 9 hours ago
      @James "Rise up and be counted and use your vote to bring in the change you want."

      But this is what we thought we were doing at the last general election. This is what we've always done. What use is it when we are repeatedly betrayed?

      Our recent activity has demonstrated that we need to fight against governments, not for them.
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    · 13 hours ago
    Tidball PIP Review?

    So many of us are furious — not just about the direction of this whole process, but that it’s still being called the Timms Review.

    What about calling it the Tidball Review instead? Yes, the name’s a bit awkward — but she spoke so passionately in Parliament last week. So many of us would have far more faith in a process led by someone like her.

    ?si=xztB0BTyJTF2x1gk

    Timms must go. Liz Kendall too. (Rachel Reeves while we’re at it...)

    I’ll be leaving a message for my MP suggesting the renaming of the review.

    Good luck to all of us with this deeply flawed Bill today!

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      · 9 hours ago
      @CaroA I think you’ve highlighted something really pathetic and juvenile about them that was at the edge of my consciousness. Don’t worry Timmy it’s still your project.The amount of egos in a lot of public services has put paid to many people doing what it is they are supposed to do in the first place and look after us the public. 
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    · 13 hours ago
    The Guardian has reported today that the UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has weighed in with concerns about the negative impact of this proposed legislation on disabled people. They're particularly the rights of Disabled people and poverty that hundreds of thousands will face if it passes. They've asked for a letter from government by 11 August to address their concerns and questions. The last time the UN weighed in on the rights and wellbeing of disabled people in the UK, the government shamefully blanked them and strutted on regardless. However, I do think that it is helpful for the UN to speak up again now, another voice on the international stage made public in the media is informative to MPs and the public. 

    Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson sloppily and irresponsibly said: 
    “We are changing the broken social security system we inherited... [ ]"
    So not inherited then, but the stains of all the past harms still visible in the numbers of claimants whose lives tragically ended, or endured poverty and worsening health because of their ineptitude and casual cruelty during previous 'reforms'.  
    Let's not forget them, and encourage others to remember them and their plight in ongoing discussions about this latest faux reform. 

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    · 14 hours ago
    UN Report - 7 July
    think all MPs should read this before they vote today.
    So that the Bill is stopped and all of the points are considered.

    Here are some of the main points -

    In particular, the Committee requests clarification on the following :

    1.    The extent to which an impact assessment has been carried out on the consequences of budget cuts introduced by the Bill on disability benefits.

    2.    The extent to which the measures envisaged by Bill will impact, in particular, young persons, new claimants of disability benefits, women with disabilities, persons with disabilities with high level of supports, persons with psychosocial disabilities, and persons with disabilities which require access to mental health care and support.

    3.    The changes introduced by the Bill to the eligibility criteria of Personal Independent Payment, including changes to assessment thresholds and conditionality and sanctions for benefit recipients.

    4.    The limitations to the Universal Credit Health elements envisaged by the Bill.

    5.    Any measures to address the foreseeable risk of increasing poverty rates amongst persons with disabilities if cuts are approved.

    6.    The consultation to the Government Green Paper ‘Pathways to Work’, released on 18 March 2025, only to 10 out of the 22 policy changes proposed.

    7.    The extent to which persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, including deaf persons and their representative organizations have been closely consulted and actively involved in the drafting of the Bill and the parliamentary process for the consideration of the Bill.

    8.    Limited scrutiny of the Bill by the House of Lords as the former has been considered by the Government as a “Money Bill”.

    9.    Public statements by politicians and authorities portraying persons with disabilities as making profit of social benefits, making false statements to get social and disability benefits or being a burden to society.

    10.    The extent to which other intended Bills, such as PAFER, would allow the Department of Work and Pensions to monitor the bank accounts of universal credit recipients with algorithms scanning for fraud.

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    · 14 hours ago
    The Government will NOT withdraw the Bill, nor will they listen to disability organisations. All of the Government's fiscal policies are directed at keeping the OBR - and by extension the financial markets - on side. I'm currently reading Blue Murder by Ben Roley-Smith, the DT political correspondent. It's a very good read about the previous Conservative Governments, especially the 49 day Truss disaster. Having read how close Britain came to financial meltdown, it illustrated why Reeves is such a fiscal hawk. 
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      · 8 hours ago
      @Matt Don't make excuses for her 🙄
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      · 9 hours ago
      @Matt We have a government committed to protecting the interests of the super rich. As economist Professor Richard Murphy commented a few days ago in one of his daily Youtube videos: the government could save £28 billion a year by ending pension tax reliefs for the top 10% of income earners. It could also save £10 billion a year by telling the BOE to stop selling government gilts (bonds) at a loss as part of its QT programme. 
      The red tory government, which is fanatical in its defence of neo-liberal economics, which have failed the world over, is making a clear political choice to attack working class people on benefits.
      I can't wait for the new Left party led by Corbyn to be launched it is long overdue. Let's be crystal clear: Labour is the enemy of working class people in this country!
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    · 14 hours ago
    I doubt that Starmer/Reeves/Kendall/Timms will pay any attention to the UN demand to withdraw the cuts, as they are so hell bent on pushing them through by any means possible.
    I do, however, hope that, on this 3rd reading (unlike the 2nd) our MP's are not swayed by the false promises, lies and deceit of those in power and take note of the UN, the numerous charities etc, that are standing up for us (they all say it is wrong) and put this bill in the bin, where it belongs.
    Please MP's, do the right thing.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 22 hours ago
    Lets hope the UN will have some sway tomorrow!

    The whole thing should be withdrawn!

    Here is hoping for a miracle tomorrow!

    The whole thing has took its toll on all of us on this site. However, we have continued to fight!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 9 hours ago
      @James @James I'd rather have a paper tiger than a trojan horse.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 hours ago
      @D2 I'd like to think that the UN will have sway but sadly I don't think it will make any impact. All along governments have ignored the UN recommendations in regard to the disabled.
      What has made an impact are the people here, on this site. I think you've all done a great job by just being here and supporting each other, as well as the work evrryones done. thank you.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 12 hours ago
      @D2 Difficult to disagree with that, @D2!

      There's no reason we should all agree, though, and it can be useful to have a discussion, so anyone down voting, please explain/put forward some argument. We're interested in your viewpoint, it might influence ours.

      When there's an up vote, it's clear people are agreeing, so it needs no explanation, but it's always welcome when people expand by commenting further.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 12 hours ago
      @D2 lolz the UN is a paper tiger
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    From the 1st comments on this rush job bill nothing's made sense apart from these are not labour. And I'm not sure I understand any of this but I believe they,'ll ignore everything and rely on timms to do it anyway. And crying lady wants us to feel sorry for how stressed she is. I don't think Labour have learnt anything, they,'ll not be happy until Reform cash in on their greed and stupidity
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Thanks for working out what wasn't adding up in that document.  It's a very strange document anyway, especially as everything is conveniently rounded up to the nearest 50,000.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    UN has demanded Gov to withdraw cuts : 
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    · 1 days ago
    There are so many statistics flying about I don't think it matters. As if it's ok for 'only' 50,000 to be in poverty.

    Yep, definitely It's fine gif 
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      · 12 hours ago
      @godgivemestrength These are the very people who will cry about grooming gangs and the vulnerability of children yet they won't see the very reasons why they are vulnerable or the curse of poverty to visit them. The same can be said about the so called pro life people who won't help those that survive. The UK's elite are full of double standards and lies.

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