Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill

I have been contacted by a huge number of constituents in the past few weeks who are terrified at the proposed cuts outlined in the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.

Already over 6.3 million people in poverty were in a family with a disabled family member but sadly the Government’s own impact analysis shows that cuts to sickness and disability benefits will make this worse, pushing an extra 250,000 people into poverty, including at least 50,000 children. Worse still is that analysis from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows that the true full impact could be closer to 400,000 more people in poverty.

Over 10,000 in the Salford constituency alone could be affected and I feel very strongly that the cuts must be scrapped. I have been urging the Government to do so, I have joined over 100 MP’s in opposing the Universal Credit and PIP Bill and will vote against these cuts if they are not scrapped.

The provision of support to those sick and disabled people who are able to work with some support is welcome but juxtaposing this support alongside what are demonstrably pernicious cuts will have the opposite effect and actually push hundreds of thousands into deep poverty. Indeed PIP actually helps people who can work with a bit of extra support, access work.

It is also important to stress that as PIP is a ‘passporting benefit’, losing access to it will have further knock-on effects for some families, pushing them further into hardship. For example, the Government estimates that these reforms will take out £500 million from carers’ benefits and lead to 150,000 households losing out on Carer’s Allowance or the UC carer element.

And on the Government’s package of employment support, it is important to note that whilst welcome, it is not immediate, it is planned to be in effect by 2029/30 so of little help to those facing cuts now. On the overall impact of this support, whilst the OBR was not able to estimate an employment impact due to insufficient policy detail, new analysis of employment support outcomes by the Learning and Work Institute found that only 1% to 3% of the people having their benefits cut would be helped into work. This finding is echoed by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) who conclude we might expect increases in employment only in the tens of thousands.

I recognise the difficult financial situation the Government has inherited but there are fairer alternatives. I have long called for a tax on extreme wealth to help properly fund public services. Even many millionaires agree: Interesting analysis from Tax Justice UK and Patriotic Millionaires UK found that over three quarters of the British public, including 68 percent of those with £1 million or more in investable assets, are in favour of a net wealth tax of 1-2% on those with more than £10 million. This is estimated to raise between £11 – £22 billion every year.

I spoke about this issue recently on ITV’s Peston programme (watch the clip here). I also raised this in a recent Westminster Hall debate, which you can watch here.

Finally, I have joined over 100 MPs in signing a reasoned amendment opposing the Bill. The full text of the amendment can be found here:

Amendment:-
That this House, whilst noting the need for the reform of the social security system, and agreeing with the Government’s principles for providing support to people into work and protecting people who cannot work, declines to give a Second Reading to the Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill because its provisions have not been subject to a formal consultation with disabled people, or co-produced with them, or their carers; because the Office for Budget Responsibility is not due to publish its analysis of the employment impact of these reforms until the autumn of 2025; because the majority of the additional employment support funding will not be in place until the end of the decade; because the Government’s own impact assessment estimates that 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty as a result of these provisions, including 50,000 children; because the Government has not published an assessment of the impact of these reforms on health or care needs; because the Government is still awaiting the findings of the Minister for Social Security and Disability’s review into the assessment for Personal Independence Payment and Sir Charlie Mayfield’s independent review into the role of employers and government in boosting the employment of disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill

I cannot imagine the heart break faced by a person and their loved ones when facing a terminal illness that causes unimaginable suffering, but I have deep concerns about the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, and I chose to vote against it at the third reading. I have outlined below my reasoning, and I wish to thank everyone who has taken the time to get in touch with me about this heart wrenching issue.

Suffering from or watching a loved one go through a terminal illness is one of the worst, most heart wrenching things in the world. It is natural to want to ease suffering and natural to be fearful of a painful undignified death. However, the currently proposed Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which plans to allow adults who are terminally ill to request and be provided with assistance to end their own life, worries me greatly. Even with the accepted amendments, I cannot in good conscience support the Bill for a number of reasons:

It does not provide adequate safeguards to ensure people are protected from coercion either deliberate or unwittingly. Abuse comes in many forms and can be extremely subtle, ranging from direct violence through to making someone feel like they are a burden. Domestic Abuse charities including Women’s Aid and Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse, charities representing older people such as the British Geriatrics Society, and medical professional organisations and groups including the Royal College of Psychiatrists have all expressed grave concerns relating to this point.

It does not provide adequate safeguards to accurately identify nor protect people from opting for an assisted death because of feeling that they are a burden.  In the US, the states of Oregon and Washington give applicants a questionnaire asking for the reasons they are applying for assisted suicide and in the most recent data 52% of applicants in Oregon and 59% in Washington reported they applied because they felt they were a burden on their friends, family and caregivers. Sadly short of a person clearly stating outright that this was the reason for their decision there is no clear way of identifying whether this was a motivation. We need stronger health and care systems in place to ensure our loved ones are never left to feel that they are a burden due to a terminal illness.

While some have remained neutral on the principle of Assisted Dying, many major medical organisations have stated their opposition to the Bill citing a number of concerns. Many health and hospice care professionals and patient charities have raised concerns about insufficient safeguards and clarity for staff who will be involved, how it risks contradicting principles of duty of care and their commitments to preserve life and improve health, risks of misdiagnosis and interaction with other illnesses, particularly mental illnesses such as eating disorders, and how at present it is practically impossible to deliver the legislation. Health services, especially in mental health and social care, do not have the resource to meet current demands, let alone the additional demands this legislation would bring right now.

We need to ensure adequate palliative and end-of-life care is available to everyone, everywhere, first and foremost. We should be investing and supporting urgent improvements in the provision of palliative care and pain relief in order to ensure those with terminal illnesses feel they can die with dignity and in comfort, so they do not feel like a burden, and without the need to opt for an early suicide simply because they cannot get the care they need and deserve.

For every person who genuinely chooses freely to end their life as a result of this Bill passing, without coercion, feelings of being a burden or due to inadequacy of care, there will sadly be another who is at risk of making their choice because of these very issues. I do not feel the Bill as it stands will protect them and as such, I voted against it.

Key Points from the recent Spending Review

Pendleton has been named one of 25 trailblazer neighbourhoods set to receive up to £20 million in long-term investment over the next decade through the Government’s new community regeneration fund. This funding will support local leadership and grassroots action, deliver visible improvements, and help build stronger, more connected neighbourhoods. Crucially, Pendleton will also have a direct link to Whitehall—ensuring our community’s needs are heard and acted upon.

On children and education, there were a number of welcome announcements. Every child will soon have access to a free breakfast club, with 750 schools already beginning the rollout. From September 2026, children in families receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to free school meals—easing household budgets and helping to ensure no child goes hungry. Funding for school-based nurseries is being increased to support early years development, while money from dormant assets will now go towards music, sport, and drama for all young people. The Government also committed to a cash uplift for school budgets, tackling the reliance on temporary classrooms, and rebuilding 500 crumbling schools.

On housing, the review pledged the biggest investment in social and affordable housing in 50 years, with a £39 billion Affordable Homes Programme and an additional £10 billion to attract private investment. Social housing will be at the heart of this programme, led by Homes England.

In the NHS, the Government promised more GPs, more appointments, and shorter waiting times. There will be mental health teams in every school by the end of the Parliament, record real-terms funding increases of 3% a year, and major investment in tech and diagnostics. For the first time, a social care agreement has been reached to tackle long-standing neglect of the care sector.

Finally, there’s some continued cost of living support. The bus fare cap has been extended to keep travel affordable, the Winter Fuel Payment is guaranteed for pensioners, and the Warm Homes Plan is being expanded. Millions of homes will be upgraded to be warmer and more energy efficient, helping to lower bills and tackle fuel poverty.

Action on Poverty: Support for Pensioners Must Be Matched for Children

I’m pleased the Government has now reintroduced winter fuel payments for most pensioners —the right move to lift pensioners out of poverty. This week, I also raised in Parliament the need to lift children out of poverty and asked Ministers to act swiftly to remove the two-child cap on Universal Credit. Watch here.

Ending the Social Housing Crisis: Salford Can’t Wait 100 Years

I raised in Parliament the shocking new analysis showing some councils face 100-year waits for social housing. With nearly 6,000 people on Salford’s waiting list, I asked Ministers what support they’ll give to build the homes we desperately need. Watch here.

Tackling Inequality in Salford: Growth Must Benefit Everyone

I spoke in Parliament about the stark inequality in Salford—booming growth, yet too many living in serious poverty or on the breadline. I spoke of the need for immediate measures: reverse the winter fuel cut, scrap the two-child benefit cap, and scrap proposed disability benefit cuts. Growth must benefit everyone. Watch here.

Making the Case for Public Ownership of Water

I urged Ministers to consider the University of Greenwich’s research, which shows that bringing water into public ownership would pay for itself in under seven years and could save between £2.5 and £5 billion annually. That’s money that could be used to stop sewage spills, fix leaks, and cut household bills. Watch here.

Water Safety

I spoke in Parliament about the importance of ensuring every child receives water safety education in Salford, the need for extra ringfenced safety funding and the urgent need for the Govt to adopt the National Fire Chiefs Council’s recommendations on inland water safety to save lives. Watch here.

Scrapping the Vagrancy Act

I’m pleased to see the Labour Government moving to scrap the centuries-old Vagrancy Act. For too long, homelessness has been treated as a crime rather than a crisis in need of compassion. This long-overdue change is a vital step towards ensuring that those facing homelessness are met with support, dignity, and the help they need—not punishment.

UNISON in Parliament

It was good to meet with UNISON representatives in Parliament to discuss the deepening crisis in our universities. Across the country, 70 institutions are cutting staff, while pay has fallen by 28% in real terms since 2010. Alarming figures show that 75% of university staff are struggling with the cost of living, and projections suggest that 72% of universities will be running deficits by 2025–26. Urgent action is needed to address this crisis and protect the future of our higher education sector.

Supporting Bakers Food & Allied Workers Union Workers

I tabled a Parliamentary motion on the future of our baking industry, supporting Bakers Food & Allied Workers Union workers, raising serious concerns about the potential merger between Kingsmill and Hovis, the risk it poses to jobs, workers’ rights, and UK food security. Trade unions must be fully consulted. You can read the motion in full here.

Calling for Urgent Reform of SEND School Transport

I joined Neil Duncan-Jordan and other MPs in writing to the Minister to call for urgent reform of the SEND school transport system. Families need a service that is fair, reliable, and fully funded—not one that leaves councils overstretched and children at risk of missing out. Read our letter in full here.

End Our Cladding Scandal

I recently joined Manchester Cladiators/#EndOurCladdingScandal, Building Safety Minister Alex Norris MP, Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, Deputy GMCA Mayor Kate Green, Homes England and City Lofts representatives to discuss cladding concerns raised by leaseholders in the Quays. Leaseholders should not bear responsibility for a crisis they did not cause and it’s great to hear that the Cladding Safety Scheme is helping to accelerate remediation at pace now. Much more still to do, though, on recovering costs from those responsible, accessibility of funding especially for social housing, robust leaseholder protections and funding for non-cladding fire safety defects. I’m pleased the Minister listened and now working to accelerate Government action.

Key Cities APPG

I was pleased to hear from fantastic speakers Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett, Cllrs John Merry and Lorna Fielker and ING researchers at a recent Key Cities All Party Parliamentary Group meeting to discuss housebuilding, social housing and securing the homes families in Salford and across the UK need. Salford Labour is leading the way. We must ensure future Government policy allows for truly affordable, sustainable and high-quality housing and social housing with the community’s needs at the heart.

Salford City Post Office Update

Following on from my letters to Government Ministers and the Post Office’s CEO raising concerns about proposals to close Salford City’s Post Office, and campaigning from your local Councillors and myself, an update has now been provided. I have been informed that the branch will continue to operate from its current premises, with the same services but under the management of an independent franchise retail partner—FirstClass Managerial Ltd (First Class Retail). My concerns about the franchising model being used remains but I am relieved, as I’m sure residents and staff are, that the Post Office will remain open in its current location.

The Post Office have asked for your views about their plans. Please note that your comments will not be kept confidential unless you expressly ask them to do so by clearly marking them “In Confidence”.

Let them know what you think:
Email: Comments@postoffice.co.uk
Post: FREEPOST Your Comments
Textphone: 03457 22 33 55
Phone: 03452 66 01 15

St Mary’s RC Swinton Primary School Olympic Day

Fantastic to see St Mary’s RC Swinton Primary School celebrate Olympic Day with The Daily Mile UK, Sports Matters and inspirational Team GB athletes Max Whitlock OBE and Abigail Irozuru They were inspiring and the children of St Mary’s were amazing. Brilliant event where we learned all about the benefits of being active but also the Olympic Values of respect, friendship and excellence.

All year round The Daily Mile UK and Sports Matters are doing inspirational work across Salford with the School Sports Partnership. Salford has over 70 schools in the program many including St Mary’s and many more who have won prestigious awards. It is clear that daily physical activity improves not just physical and emotional well-being but social and mental development.

Armed Forces Week

It was an honour to be present for the Armed Forces Week flag raising ceremony in Salford today, to Salute Our Forces, both those serving currently and veterans alike. Thank you to all from Salford who serve and who previously served to keep us safe.

UK-Chinese Dragon Boat Race

It was a brilliant start to the UK Chinese Dragon Boat Festival in Salford Quays earlier this month. Fantastic crowds, cultural entertainment and a joyous atmosphere—well done to all involved, CDBF UK, Salford City Council, the Chinese Community in Greater Manchester, HE Zheng Zeguang, Salford Mayor Paul Dennett, and Manchester’s Lord Mayor Cllr Carmine Grimshaw.

HOST Salford

I was pleased to join Local Growth Minister Alex Norris MP, Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett, and Salford Labour Councillors at HOST Salford to celebrate the success of MediaCity UK and the Quays—and to explore how we can build on that innovation to benefit all our communities.

Out and about in Salford

It was great to be out and about speaking with residents in the Ordsall and Blackfriars & Trinity wards recently, along with Team Salford Labour and our local hard-working Councillors. Thank you to everyone who came along, and to everyone we spoke to on the doorstep!

Mayoral Civic Sunday

It was great to attend the Mayoral Civic Sunday ceremony to mark the installation of Cllr Heather Fletcher as Salford’s new Ceremonial Mayor—huge congratulations to Heather, she will do a fantastic job.