Over recent months, I have heard from hundreds of constituents, local organisations and charities who support those living in poverty and with disabilities.

I am grateful to everyone who has shared their experiences, worries, and struggles with me. I have listened intently to these concerns and engaged closely with the communities who will be most impacted by the Welfare Reform Bill.

I share the Government’s sentiment that the welfare system, following 14 years of Tory mismanagement and neglect, is in desperate need of reform. I consistently receive casework from constituents who need support with appeals, claims, or being stuck in a loop within the system. The Government is therefore rightly committing to fundamentally reforming the system so that it provides support to those who need it without barriers or difficulties.

The Bill initially had points that concerned me, which is why I joined over 120 other Labour MPs to sign the Reasoned Amendment to stop this Bill from moving forward.

I accept that the Government has addressed some of these concerns by ensuring that no existing claimants will lose PIP because of these changes, and committing that no one will be pushed into poverty because of these changes. I also welcome the delay of eligibility changes to PIP to take account of the findings of Minister Sir Stephen Timms’ review, which will consult disability groups.

As I continue to have concerns about the Bill, I have recently signed multiple amendments to the current Bill, including:

• NC 4 – requiring Secretary of State to consider the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities;
• NC10 – requiring the Government to publish a Human Rights Memorandum to ensure the Bill complies with various human rights legislation;
• 17 – ensuring that fluctuating conditions, such as Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis, is a factor in assessing whether the person qualifies as a severe conditions criteria claimant;
• 44 – ensuring that those diagnosed with and receiving treatment for cancer are included within the definition of “severe conditions criteria claimant”;
• NC11 – requiring co-production of the Bill using the Timms Review and requiring independent oversight;

Regardless of the amended Bill, I am still not satisfied that this Bill will give my constituents the support they most desperately need. I am also concerned that it risks a two-tier system of different rules for people who have required PIP before and after the deadline, and I have worries that there has not been sufficient scrutiny allocated to the Bill.

As I represent a constituency facing disproportionate levels of poverty, I cannot support reforms that do not show sufficient evidence of protections from falling into poverty, and for those who are already suffering.

I appreciate the steps that the Government has already made to reduce inequality and poverty in our society. I also appreciate that there needs to be reform of a system that is not working for those who depend on it, and that intended changes to the system could improve outcomes, particularly with the promise of further improvements as this Bill progresses.

While I do believe this Bill has the potential to start the reform process, I am concerned about how the changes would impact our constituency. I therefore cannot support the Bill in its current form and will abstain from voting in favour of it.

I know many constituents have asked me to vote against the Bill and I understand why. Although it may be a disappointment that I have not voted against the Bill directly, I must be clear that I do not support this legislation as it stands.

As a backbench Labour MP, I play a critical role in urging the party to make meaningful changes. Advocacy from within the Party is most effective, as we have seen through the recent changes the Government implemented to this Bill due to Labour MPs campaigning.

Moving forward, I will continue to advocate for the voices of disabled people to be heard as a priority in a thorough consultation process. I will do all I can to ensure that developments in this Bill that reform the welfare system will create a fairer, more just system that improves the lives of my constituents.