Welfare reform: Northern Ireland parties unite to decry UK Government plans

Politicians in Northern Ireland have united in their opposition to benefit reforms that includes tightening eligibility for personal independence payments.

First Minister Michelle O’Neill, speaking in the Stormont Assembly, said that following the winter fuel payment cut and increase in national insurance contributions, the Labour government is now targeting people with disabilities.

“Now they’re reaching for people with disabilities, and those that are sick and vulnerable in our society,” she said before describing the moves as “political choices”.

“I can assure you that, yes, we will take every opportunity to raise these issues with the relevant people in London,” Ms O’Neill said.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, when questioned about any mitigations to soften the impact of the changes, said the devolved government does not have the resources to do so based on the estimated numbers.

He added that he is still trying to work out the exact impact, but based on the more than £5bn figure announced by London, that would mean £150m in the north.

“We do not have the resources at our disposal,” Mr Lyons said.

DUP leader and East Belfast MP Gavin Robinson said “people deserve dignity, security, the right support to live independently and where possible, to work” and that the UK Government should “not bulldoze ahead with harmful, ill-conceived reforms”.

“We believe in protecting the most vulnerable in our society while also ensuring fairness for taxpayers and tackling abuse of the system,” Mr Robinson said.

“Yet, in the Government’s statement to the House of Commons, there was not a single mention of efforts to prevent exploitation of welfare – something the public expects and deserves.

The reforms are “cruel and cowardly” and will “simply drive people and families into deep financial hardship”, Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood said.

“While an estimated £50 billion could be raised from wealth and £42 billion is owed to HMRC in unpaid taxes, the Government is once again going after the most vulnerable in our society. It is a cruel and cowardly move.”

UUP MP Robin Swann urged the government to “review” the decisions and make a “commitment that any legislative changes do not negatively impact on those who face daily challenges that are unimaginable to most of us”.

West Belfast MLA Gerry Carroll, of People Before Profit, called on the Executive to “urgently respond” to the welfare reform plans.

“Labour’s plans for welfare reform will not fix a broken system. They will only serve to plunge vulnerable people deeper into poverty and destitution,” Mr Carroll said.

Becca Bor, of the Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network, told BBC’s Good Morning Ulster that there were “other ways that revenue can be raised”.

Ms Bor described the reforms, which also impact universal credit and the jobseekers allowance, as part of a “concerted effort to demonise and malign people who are disabled”.

“The way in which you get more people into work is through support, training on the job, working with employers to actually increase employers wiliness to hire people with disabilities.”

Stewart Finn, of the MS Society Northern Ireland said: “These devastating benefits cuts will push more disabled people into poverty and worsen people’s health.

“Living with MS can be debilitating, exhausting and unpredictable, not to mention costly. PIP is a lifeline for so many, helping them manage the enormous extra costs of their condition – from mobility aids to physiotherapy.”