There's a lot to think about with the recent announcements on welfare reform, and I want to explain my thinking below after yesterday's announcements, says Dan Aldridge, MP for Weston-super-Mare.
Firstly, our welfare system is not working. 1 in 8 people under the age of 22 are not in education, employment, or training. That is thousands in Weston-super-Mare and millions across the country written off and failed by our system.
The state should be much better at supporting people in these circumstances, and, on this, I fully support the Government in making those changes. Good, secure, well-paid work is the best way for people to build their future with dignity and escape from poverty.
The current welfare system isn't sustainable either, with a benefit and working-age-sickness bill growing faster than in any comparable country. Something is really wrong here, and it falls to this Government to act where the previous Government failed.
However, while I agree with the significant £1 billion investment in the Pathways to Work offer, the 'right to try' policy and the measures introduced to protect those with chronic, lifelong disabilities, I, like many colleagues, have concluded that these measures, as they stand, are likely to push large numbers of people in my constituency further into poverty.
I won't ignore the findings of the independent impact assessment published yesterday, which states that these changes will push an extra 250,000 people (including 50,000 children) into relative poverty after housing costs.
I did not come into politics to impose this on the most vulnerable in our society, and as Paul Kissack, Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has said, "With living standards for the poorest under continuing assault, the government needs to protect people from harm with the same zeal as it attempts to build its reputation for fiscal competence.”
It should not be beyond our capacity to find a solution to this.
I became an MP to support our community, to give it a voice and be active and engaged on issues that affect our people. I have serious concerns about how these changes could affect children and disabled people in Weston, Worle, and our villages.
I know many colleagues are similarly concerned about these proposed changes and we will continue to make the case to ministers that we should find a better way.
The Government has made so much positive, transformative progress towards fixing the NHS, developing a clear industrial strategy in the public interest, restoring our international reputation and opening up opportunities to work or study in every community. In so many ways, we are on the right course.
I need to hear from you about this. I want to hear what you think about the Welfare Reform proposals, what you support, and what you may not. Many of you have emailed me already, but if you choose to fill out this form, I need to understand which parts you are worried may impact you. The more information, the better.
I want to represent Weston in the best, most informed way I can, so I need to hear from you. Please complete the form below.
I appreciate your patience on this matter during what I know is an incredibly stressful and anxiety-inducing time for many.
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