THE CHAIRS WERE EMPTY. THE ISSUE REMAINS.

On 18 June 2025, we invited every North East MP to meet disabled constituents and hear directly about what the Government's Pathways to Work welfare reforms would mean for their communities. Eighteen MPs chose not to come. Eighteen MPs who together represent over 340,000 disabled people across the North East - and whose constituencies stand to lose hundreds of millions of pounds in PIP and benefit payments.

This page names every MP who skipped the meeting and has not yet publicly opposed the cuts - alongside the financial impact on their disabled constituents. It also names the nine North East MPs who have stood up and publicly committed to oppose the PIP cuts.

The Access to the Everyday Report 2026 found that 65% of disabled people in the North East already face employment barriers, and 68% struggle to access public services. These cuts will deepen every one of those barriers. The Disability Price Tag research shows disabled households already need an average of £1,095 extra per month just to reach the same standard of living as non-disabled households. Taking away PIP does not make disabled people less disabled. It makes them poorer.

The 18 who chose empty chairs

These MPs skipped our meeting and have so far refused to oppose PIP cuts. The table below shows the financial impact on disabled people in each constituency.

@differencenortheast THE CHAIRS WERE EMPTY. THE ISSUE REMAINS. ♬ original sound - Difference North East

Constituency impact data sourced from parliamentary records and benefit claimant statistics. Rank reflects position nationally among constituencies most affected by PIP cuts per disabled person.

The 9 who stand with disabled people

These North East MPs have publicly committed to oppose PIP cuts. They deserve recognition - and continued pressure to hold the line.