Read my statement on the Government's proposed changes to welfare

Later, MPs will debate the Government's proposed changes to PIP, which, despite recent concessions, I still believe are not only unfair but dangerous too. They risk creating real, lasting harm to some of the most vulnerable people in our society. It should not have taken a major rebellion for the Government to realise this. Unfortunately, it did. But the changes they’ve made to the bill do nothing to quell my concerns.

Under the new plan, existing recipients of PIP won’t be affected. But this still creates a deeply unjust two-tier system, where future disabled people are denied the support their peers receive today. The idea of simply postponing these changes rather than reconsidering them epitomises the arbitrary, rushed approach the Government has taken.

The Government should go back to the drawing board. In the absence of any impact assessment, MPs still do not have the full facts and those who are affected have still not been consulted on these changes.

Liberal Democrats will continue to oppose this bill that risks stripping thousands of carers of vital assistance and leaving some of the most vulnerable without support. It’s clear that the welfare bill is too high, but if the Government was serious about cutting welfare spending it would get serious about fixing health and social care, to tackle chronic ill-health at its root.