MP promises constituents Q&A after voting for Labour's gutted benefits bill
Crewe and Nantwich MP, Connor Naismith, has spoken after voting for Labour's gutted welfare bill on July 1, promising a Q&A session with constituents who previously raised concerns about proposed changes.
On July 2, the South Cheshire MP confirmed he would hold the Q&A ahead of the welfare bill's third reading,
The previous evening, MPs voted through the government's benefits bill by 335 votes to 260, a majority of 75.
Ministers had already watered down their plans once by reversing some cuts to universal credit and protecting current claimants of PIP from stricter eligibility rules.
Some Labour MPs, including Mr Naismith, were still concerned the new criteria for claiming PIP would come into effect before recommendations of the Timms Review could be implemented.
Fearing a humiliating defeat, Keir Starmer's government announced a further U-turn, saying it would not change PIP rules until it had time to consider the review's conclusion.
READ MORE: Revealed: Number of PIP claimants in Crewe and Nantwich rises by 116 per cent
This led to Mr Naismith voting in favour of the watered-down bill, with the eleventh hour changes leaving Labour's Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill stripped of its biggest measures.
Mr Naismith said: "Earlier this week, I provided an update to constituents where I made clear that I did not feel the concessions produced by the government at that time went far enough.
"My chief remaining concern is that the Timms Review, which will redesign the PIP eligibility criteria and be coproduced with disabled people, would not be implemented before the cut off for protection of people's incomes.
"I stand by my view that this would be wrong and could create a three tier system for PIP.
"I spent Monday [June 30] in meeting after meeting with Ministers and whips, lobbying the government to heed my concerns and those of my currently disabled constituents and those who may become disabled in the future.
"I am pleased to confirm that I have received cast iron assurances from the top of government that there will be no cut off of current levels of support for claimants of PIP before the implementation of the Timms Review and that reference to the four-point criteria (clause five) will be removed from the bill.
"These assurances have been hard fought for, and I am immensely proud of every colleague who has supported efforts to get here.
"It is not easy to publicly challenge your part, but I am in no doubt that I have done the right thing by my constituents. On the basis of the assurances I have received, I have lent my vote to the bill at the Second Reading.
"There will be further votes on this next week and I must make clear that I reserve my right to withdraw this support if these assurances are not delivered upon."
Mr Naismith's office will be reaching out to constituents that have already contacted Connor on the topic and inviting them to attend a meeting to discuss their worries.
The aim of the meeting will be for Connor to provide assurances and information on the Bill, the different stages for the passing of the Bill, and why he has chosen to support it.
Mr Naismith 's office has not yet reached out to the constituents identified but the MP will be sharing clips of his responses to questions after the meeting, for those who do not attend.
Regarding the proposed Q&A session, Mr Naismith added; "I know this is scary and I want to make myself as accessible as possible to residents to discuss what all of this means from my perspective and theirs.
"As someone who has been here in Parliament with direct experience of what is going on regarding the reforms, I think it's important we establish a two-way dialogue."
READ MORE: Inquest begins into death of Nantwich teenager Jonty Evans.
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