Statement on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill
I know how deeply emotive and personal this issue is for people across the towns, villages, and city that I represent — and for Members of Parliament.
Welfare policy isn’t abstract; it’s about the real-life experiences of people navigating illness, disability, financial insecurity, and change. They deserve a system that provides dignity, respect, and genuine support.
This Labour Government has inherited a broken welfare system from the Conservatives. After 14 years of mismanagement, we all agree that it is no longer fit for purpose — failing too many people of all ages, and too often punishing instead of empowering. Change is essential.
That is why, over recent months, I’ve been listening carefully to those who know the system best. I’ve spoken with constituents, local trade unions, and frontline welfare charities across north Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes to better understand the challenges people face and how we can support them to take control of their own lives. I’ve taken these conversations directly to Ministers at the Department for Work and Pensions.
I’m pleased that the Government’s Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill took on board the concerns raised by me and many other Labour Members of Parliament and made improvements as a result. A Government that listens to Parliament — and to the people we represent — is a strong Government.
I welcome the fact that this Bill delivers the biggest boost to out-of-work support since 1980, including the largest-ever permanent increase to the base rate of Universal Credit. For a single person aged 25 and over, that means an increase of £725 per year — putting hundreds of pounds back into the pockets of low-income households across the Buckingham and Bletchley constituency.
I also welcome the £1bn a year that will be invested by the end of the decade to help more people into work. And I strongly support the forthcoming Right to Try Guarantee, for which draft regulations will shortly be laid in Parliament. For the first time, this will enshrine in law the right for people receiving health and disability benefits to try work without fear of being reassessed or losing their support. That is a principled, practical step forward.
I know many will rightly want reassurance about the future of disability support. Let me be absolutely clear: no one currently receiving Personal Independence Payment will be affected by any future changes. And those with the most severe conditions will continue to be fully protected.
Importantly, I welcome the announcement that Sir Stephen Timms, the Minister for Social Security and Disability, will lead a full review of the PIP assessment process. That review will be co-produced with disabled people and the organisations that support them. It will take a holistic approach, ensuring the system is fair and future-proof — recognising the changes in the world of work, in society, and in our understanding of physical and mental health. Any changes to eligibility criteria or assessment descriptors will follow only after that process is complete.
At the same time, I believe we must be honest about the wider context. The UK’s welfare bill is substantial — and I would be doing my constituency a disservice if I failed to consider the broader financial impact. For the system to retain the consent and support of the public in the long term, it must be placed on a sustainable financial footing. But that cannot and must not come at the expense of the most vulnerable. My Labour values are clear: we must protect those who need help most, while building a fair and affordable system that works for everyone.
This Bill now moves to Committee Stage ahead of its Third Reading next week. I will continue to speak up for the people and organisations I represent, and work to ensure our welfare system restores dignity, empowers people, and delivers on its most fundamental promise: to be there when we need it.
