Lewes constituency MP backs Lib Dem amendment to controversial welfare bill to protect carers from “senseless” cuts

Liberal Democrat MP for the constituency of Lewes, James MacCleary, has backed the party’s amendment to the Government’s controversial welfare bill, in a bid to protect carers at risk of losing support from the planned cuts.

The Government’s own estimates say that 150,000 unpaid carers would lose Carers Allowance as a result of the proposed cuts contained in the legislation. It would act as a double whammy for these households, as these carers lose their Carers Allowance as a result of the loved one that they care for losing their Personal Independence Payments due to the reforms.

The party has said the Government’s plans to strip away Carers Allowance would be a ‘false economy’, as carers becoming financially unable to look after their loved ones would increase pressure on the NHS, social care and local government services. The Lib Dems have instead said that the best way to get the welfare bill down is by addressing the crisis in the NHS and social care, to get people off waiting lists and back into work.

James MacCleary urged ministers to “change course” in order to stop these reforms pushing a further 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into poverty according to the Government’s own assessment.

If passed, the Liberal Democrat amendment would stop the bill from becoming law in order to protect thousands of unpaid carers and their loved ones, including in the constituency of Lewes, falling victim to these cuts. 

Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes, which includes Seaford, Newhaven, Polegate and surrounding villages, James MacCleary, said, “The Government needs to urgently change course and scrap these senseless cuts. I have heard from countless constituents across Seaford, Newhaven, Lewes and across our local villages, who are deeply worried that they will lose out on vital support, which is the only way many people can stay in work or just get through their everyday lives.

“The Conservatives made a complete mess of our welfare system, but the way to tackle that is not through cutting support for disabled people and those who care for them. 

“Unpaid carers do tremendous work in often the most challenging of circumstances, taking huge pressures off our health services and helping loved ones. 

“We need to offer them more support, not less, and that is why I am proud to have signed this Liberal Democrat amendment to the Government’s misguided reforms that would protect carers and countless people here in the Lewes constituency from these damaging cuts.”

Reporting on the Government’s impact assessments can be found here.

The text of the Liberal Democrat amendment:

That this House, while acknowledging that the amount of money currently having to be spent on welfare is too high, declines to give a Second Reading to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill because it does not introduce fair reforms to sustainably and effectively support more people into work; it makes it harder for disabled people who are already employed to remain in work, by cutting Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which covers help with essential daily tasks such as washing and preparing meals; because it withdraws support for people who are simply unable to work due to chronic health issues or disabilities; because it will remove Carers Allowance from 150,000 unpaid carers, whose tireless work supports some of the most vulnerable in society and fills the gaps of health and care systems; because cutting support for disabled people will worsen the cost pressures facing the NHS, social care and local government, likely resulting in a false economy;  because it does nothing to tackle the root causes of the rising welfare bill, including chronic ill-health, young people’s mental ill-health and the crisis in the NHS and social care; because it comes at a time when disabled people’s income is being stretched by high energy, heating and food costs; and because according to the Government’s own impact assessment, it will lead to an additional 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, falling into poverty by 2029-30.