Government’s "woeful" approach towards welfare bill caused needless distress to most vulnerable in society claims Helen Maguire MP

Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom & Ewell, Helen Maguire, voted against the Welfare Bill (July 1) as Prime Minister Keir Starmer was forced into further concessions amid reports of a Labour backbench rebellion.

Helen Maguire MP joined her Liberal Democrat colleagues in calling for MPs across the house to vote against the Labour Government, citing the bill as ‘rushed legislation’ - however the bill eventually passed second reading by 75 votes.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, had announced that claimants would need to meet a new additional eligibility requirement for the daily living component of Personal Independence Payments (PIP). Under these Government plans, new claimants must score a minimum of four points on at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component from November 2026.

Yet hours before the vote, the Government made further concessions - scrapping the entire PIP section of the welfare bill. The Government’s new four-point eligibility criteria is also under threat - as they await the conclusion of the Timms review - which is being conducted with disability groups.

Liberal Democrat MP for Epsom & Ewell, Helen Maguire said:

“The Government has quite frankly gambled with the lives of disabled people and carers in Epsom & Ewell. Their woeful and rushed approach towards the welfare bill has caused needless distress to the most vulnerable in society. 

“It is shameful that it took the genuine threat of Labour backbench mutiny to force the Prime Minister’s hand. The Government should have recognised that these disability cuts were cruel and senseless from the start. 

“Personal Independence Payments and Carer’s Allowance are not ‘pocket change’, they are absolutely vital payments that help the most vulnerable in society to live more independently and get back into work. The Government should apologise to the hundreds of thousands of people they put at risk.

“I am proud that I, and my Liberal Democrat colleagues, voted against the Government. We stood up for disabled people and carers, and we will always continue to do so.”