Martin Bonner 🦋 @argentas.bsky.social

With Carers Week drawing to a close, and the words from Liz Kendall’s vile and condescending video still echoing in my head, I’ve been reflecting this weekend on my experience as an unpaid carer for my partner. 1/15

#ACY25 While you were talking the talk, this wheelchair user was ‘active travelling’ to go shopping. Except pavements were impassable & no ramps provided. Had to get out of ♿️, shove it off the footpath with my one good arm to continue on road. Dangerous. #TakingTheDis

The IAPT + employment support programme that they tried ended up with fewer of the in-work-but-struggling group still in work after the support. The report authors noted that work can be negative, and that keeping someone in work may be at the expense of health and wellbeing.

We didn’t “go back to normal.” We just normalized mass disability, mass gaslighting, and mass graves.

Er, Kemi, of the many problems in your statement—“end automatic ‘severe condition’ status for low-level mental health issues like anxiety and ADHD”—there is no such thing. This is made up. If you want to look tough, perhaps focus on getting rid of things that actually exist.

The “horrific” target-driven system used to decide people’s disability benefits must end, former assessors have warned. msn.com/en-gb/health/o…

At #ACY25 @simonlightwood tells delegates small interventions can make a big difference to people. The Council should take note that less than 200 yards from the conference centre the dropped kerb is blocked by an overgrown hedge. But disabled people don’t matter, do we ⁉️

Last week: experts on TV were saying the chancellor would have to raise taxes in the Autumn This week: experts on TV are saying the chancellor will have to raise taxes in the Autumn, because of yesterday. Never: experts on TV talk about the costs of cuts to NHS and social care

But the concessions don’t go far enough. Problems remaining: 1. £2 billion cut to UC health element hitting 750,000 new claimants 2. Questions about how meaningful "co-production" of the PIP review will be 3. Unclear if MPs will be able to amend and vote on the PIP review 4/7

One thing that needs to be excised from public discourse is the received wisdom that 'welfare reform is necessary'. The welfare bill is not 'ballooning', it's been between 10-12% of gdp for 30 odd years. We have one of the most miserly welfare states in Europe.

The problem is a clear narrative to construct round government actions - has been drowned by failed & wrong-headed attempts to cut social security. Last 3 weeks has had an NHS 10 year plan, defence spending announcement, £100bn of infra spend, an industrial strategy. All lost.

“You stopped us harming people with disabilities, so we’ll hurt children” is not a line that shows any learning from the debacle.

This is how the government gets to pretend benefit claims have already doubled by 2030

Dear MPs, We’re headed towards the vote. Disabled people are watching which lobby you go through. We won’t forget and we won’t let you forget either. Vote wisely. #KillTheChaoticBill

Whatever people’s views about the concessions, surely everyone can see the process here is ALL wrong? Third Reading in eight days? A timetable like that diminishes the role of MPs in getting this legislation right, shuts out disabled people and puts too many at risk.

I honestly don't think many of these MPs have the most basic grasp of the welfare system. Time and again they refer to PIP as if it is an "out of work" benefit. The #WelfareReformBill is being voted on by people who have no understanding of what it means. It's terrifying.

Desperate government offers further concession to get its welfare cuts bill over the line bbc.co.uk/news/live/ckg3… a review of PIP points rules will now precede changes which mean new claimants need to be more severely disabled than current ones

Just listened to @RachaelMaskell make such a powerful, moving and heartfelt defence of the sick and disabled in the chamber. She really is the best of us. The bill must be postponed till genuine co-production with disabled groups can take place @TheLabour is better than this

What's playing out in the Commons is utter madness. We don't even know what the new scoring criteria will be when the new scoring system comes in. There's not a single MP, including the secretary of state, including the prime minister, who knows what they're actually voting on

Thank you to @RachaelMaskell and the other MPs who have been working on this. The number of Disability groups who have co-signed this amendment cannot be ignored. Proud of our phenomenal community. We will not be divided.