Tom Gordon MP slams disability benefit cuts for harming those with fluctuating conditions

Following last week’s Spring Statement, Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, raised concerns in Parliament about the devastating impact of disability benefit cuts on people with fluctuating conditions. 

Tom highlighted that individuals with conditions that vary in severity, such as Crohn’s and colitis, already face significant barriers to accessing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – and with these new cuts, more people with fluctuating conditions will slip through the cracks, left without the support they need. 

These cuts come after Rachel Reeves pushed forward with plans to slash vital disability benefits, which serve as a lifeline for millions. An estimated 370,000 people will lose their entitlement to the daily living allowance element of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), while another 430,000 future claimants will miss out on support they would have otherwise received. On top of this, 150,000 people will lose Carer’s Allowance, stripping away crucial help from those who need it most.

Many charities and organisations, including Crohn’s & Colitis UK, have already flagged that even before these reforms, the PIP system was not working effectively for those with fluctuating conditions. The new cuts will only exacerbate this issue, leaving thousands with varying conditions without the vital support they need to live and work.

Concerned about the consequences, Tom directly challenged the Minister in Parliament, asking what specific consideration had been given to fluctuating conditions in the context of these cuts. 

In response, the Minister claimed that the system would properly account for these conditions. However, Tom found this answer concerning, knowing that many people with varying conditions already struggle to access PIP under the current system—let alone now that the process is becoming even more restrictive. 

Commenting, Tom said: 

‘These disability benefit cuts are a disaster waiting to happen – pushing thousands into poverty and leaving people with fluctuating conditions without the support the need. 

‘People with fluctuating conditions already face huge challenges accessing PIP. Now, even more will be shut out. Conditions like these can make it impossible to work, especially during flare-ups, yet the government is stripping away the very support that helps people stay in employment. 

‘If the government really wants to help people work, they should be making the system fairer, not crueller.’ 

ENDS