On Wednesday 9th July 2025 after months of planning, emails, meetings, telephone calls, briefings, consultations, and campaigning; Difference North East staff watched as MPs voted on welfare reforms.
The Bill passed by 336 votes to 242, with only 9 North East MPs voting against.
THE 20 WHO VOTED FOR CUTS
These MPs voted in favour of welfare reforms that will harm disabled constituents:
| Name | Constituency |
|---|---|
| Sam Rushworth | Bishop Auckland |
| Liz Twist | Blaydon and Consett |
| Emma Foody | Cramlington and Killingworth |
| Lola McEvoy | Darlington |
| Mark Ferguson | Gateshead Central and Whickham |
| Joe Morris | Hexham |
| Bridget Phillipson | Houghton and Sunderland South |
| Luke Myer | Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland |
| Chi Onwurah | Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West |
| Catherine McKinnell | Newcastle upon Tyne North |
| Alan Strickland | Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor |
| Luke Akehurst | North Durham |
| David Smith | North Northumberland |
| Anna Turley | Redcar |
| Chris McDonald | Stockton North |
| Lewis Atkinson | Sunderland Central |
| Sir Alan Campbell | Tynemouth |
| Sharon Hodgson | Washington and Gateshead South |
THE 9 WHO STOOD WITH DISABLED PEOPLE
These MPs voted against the welfare reforms:
Blyth and Ashington
Ian Lavery
City of Durham
Mary Kelly Foy
Easington
Grahame Morris
Hartlepool
Jonathan Brash
Jarrow and Gateshead East
Kate Osborne
Middlesbrough and Thornaby East
Andy McDonald
Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend
Mary Glindon
South Shields
Emma Lewell-Buck
Stockton West
Matt Vickers
Government Concessions
At the time of the vote, the government had already made a number of concessions; including removing the proposed 4-point PIP eligibility rule entirely, and accepting amendments to embed a co-production taskforce (The Timms review). These concessions were welcomed, but we maintain they didn’t go far enough.
“It was the incredible strength, commitment, and fight of the Deaf and Disabled community, our organizations, and our allies. It was a win, and it’s important we celebrate that.”
— Claire Andrews
Our Message to Supportive MPs
“Here at Difference North East, we wanted to take the time to once again thank you for understanding that Welfare Reform is a matter of conscience and ethical consideration. We know we have contacted you a lot around this matter in the past couple of months, and we were really pleased to know that you listened to the disabled people in your constituency and voted in the way that advocated for their rights. Thank you.
Whilst it is disappointing that the Bill passed its third reading last Wednesday, we hope that you will continue to advocate for the required changes to make the Bill fit for purpose and actually supports disabled people rather than using them as pawns in a misguided fiscal responsibility effort. We at Difference North East would be more than pleased to meet with yourself and your team to talk about the issues more, or to help you meet with disabled people in your constituency.
Once again, thank you for your ongoing support for disabled people and for standing for our rights last Wednesday.
Best wishes,
Difference North East”
What Comes Next?
The Universal Credit Bill will now move to the House of Lords for further scrutiny before it will become law.
Pathways To Work White Paper will be published. We don’t yet know when this will be. According to the benefits and work website:
“The white paper follows the Green Paper Pathways To Work consultation and should include proposals on:
- Removing barriers to trying work
- Supporting people who lose entitlement to PIP
- Proposed Unemployment Insurance contributory benefit
- Delaying access to the UC health element until age 22
- Raising the age at which people can claim PIP to 18″
The Timms review will start in Autumn 2025. A terms of reference has now been published. This review will review the role of the PIP assessment, the assessment criteria, descriptors, and points. Difference North East are concerned that the Timms review highlights that it will be looking at both the daily living elements and the mobility elements.
How to Prepare for What Comes Next?
We prepare by looking after each other. Because care is resistance, community is resistance and rest is resistance.
I think we do need to celebrate our wins, but we also need to celebrate each other. From the small actions to the bigger actions, each one was important. We have proven year-on-year (and decade on decade) that we are a force.
To quote a good friend here in Teesside:
“We are a roar!”
Learn to roar, and your pack will be waiting.
RESIST IN CARE, TOGETHER
Ready to roar? Join Difference North East as a member!
Membership is free, and you can be involved as little or as much as you want. We will be arranging some in person and online events over the coming months!
Claire Andrews: Development Manager, Teesside
Accessibility
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