“Last Line of Defence”: Wiltshire MP’s plan to reduce damage from Government’s Welfare Bill

Ahead of the Welfare Reform bill’s third reading in Parliament on Wednesday, Liberal Democrat MP for Chippenham, Sarah Gibson, has called the Government’s plan “deeply damaging”.

Sarah Gibson MP says her top priority is to vote against the Bill and stop it completely. But because the Government has a majority – and Labour is likely to vote for it – she is also backing changes to reduce the harm it could cause if it becomes law.

“The Government’s Welfare Reform Bill is a deeply damaging piece of legislation that threatens to strip vital support from disabled people and carers,” said Sarah Gibson MP. “It is fundamentally flawed and should be scrapped altogether. That remains my overall objective.”

“However, with the Labour’s majority and many Conservatives likely to support the bill, I am working with my Liberal Democrat colleagues to limit the harm it may cause if passed. That is why I am supporting a series of targeted amendments designed to introduce basic safeguards and force long-overdue transparency.”

Sarah Gibson MP and her Liberal Democrat colleagues are putting forward three key changes to the Bill. These aim to make sure the Government does proper research, listens to people who will be affected, and gives clear information to those who may lose support.

“These proposals are not an endorsement of the Bill,” she added. “They are a last line of defence for some of the most vulnerable in our communities. The Liberal Democrats will continue to oppose this legislation in full, but we will also do everything we can to mitigate its most devastating effects.”

Sarah Gibson MP says she will share further updates with residents later this week once there is more information about the next vote.