Latest news with #MuniraWilson
The Guardian
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Kim Leadbeater urges MPs to back palliative care amendment to assisted dying bill
Kim Leadbeater has urged MPs to back an amendment to the assisted dying bill which would commission a new assessment on the state of palliative care, a move first proposed by the bill's opponents. In a gesture to MPs who are voting against the bill, the MP sponsoring it said that she understood the concern about the quality of care for terminally ill people and said she believed that improving palliative services should not be in competition with assisted dying. Leadbeater announced her backing for the amendment – which has not yet been chosen by the speaker – after a meeting with the chief executive of Marie Curie. The amendment, which has been proposed for the next reading of the bill this Friday, is authored by the Lib Dem MP Munira Wilson and 21 others who have previously voted against it. It comes amid a race by both sides to persuade MPs to change their mind on the bill – which passed by a majority of 55 in November, and on which MPs have a free vote. A number of changes were made to the bill during its committee stage, including the removal of the approval of a high court judge to be replaced with a panel of experts. Leadbeater said she would urge MPs to back Wilson's amendment, which is supported by Marie Curie and other palliative care charities. The health secretary, Wes Streeting, who is opposed to the bill, has said in the past he is concerned that the NHS is not fit to cope with the change and that he is worried people would choose to hasten their deaths because of the current state of the healthcare service. The amendment says that the government must undertake 'an assessment of the availability, quality and distribution of appropriate health services to persons with palliative and end of life care needs.' It says that should be made at the earliest opportunity in the reporting on the implementation of the legislation. Leadbeater said that while she could not influence the selection of amendments, she hoped that MPs would back that change if they were given the chance. 'I agree with Marie Curie that everything possible should be done to strengthen and extend the provision of palliative care services,' she said. 'I was happy to confirm in our meeting that I am fully committed to a holistic approach to end-of-life care and choice and that I am determined that if the terminally ill adults (end of life) bill passes, it should be accompanied by improvements to palliative care in England and Wales, as has been the experience in other jurisdictions where assisted dying is already available as an option.' She said Marie Curie had 'made the point that the case for improved palliative care is not in competition with the idea of allowing an assisted death in certain, very tightly drawn circumstances and I agree. 'While I cannot pre-empt the decision of the speaker about which amendments to select for debate, I would encourage colleagues in parliament to support this amendment, if and when it is put to a vote.' The bill would allow an assisted death for those with a terminal illness with less than six months to live, needing the approval of two doctors and a panel including a specialist lawyer, social worker and psychiatrist. Other amendments proposed by MPs that are gathering support include a prohibition on doctors from raising the prospect of an assisted death with patients – a change proposed by the Labour MP Meg Hillier – and a specialist carve-out for eating disorders such as anorexia, which MPs have voiced fears could be considered a terminal illness in some cases.
Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Lib Dems laugh off 'party of posh Pimm's drinkers' jibe after taking control of councils in leafy 'Boden Belt'
The Lib Dems have laughed off suggestions that they were wooing 'Pimm's drinkers' and dominating the 'Boden Belt' after taking control of councils in leafy, traditionally Tory areas. The party celebrated wins across swathes of the Home Counties and southern England, and became the largest party in Devon, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Wiltshire. Leader Sir Ed Davey had earlier claimed the Lib Dems were now 'the party of Middle England'. But on yesterday's Radio 4 Today programme, the party's education spokesman, Munira Wilson, was asked about whether the Lib Dems had replaced the Tories as 'the party of the posh'. This was a reference to a recent Spectator article which suggested they represent 'constituencies where Britain's bourgeoisie are most comfortable', adding: 'Everywhere Pimm's is served, a Lib Dem is the local MP. 'They dominate the Boden Belt. Even the Tories despair that the Lib Dems are the real 'party of the posh'.' In response, Twickenham MP Ms Wilson said: 'We are the party that believes in integrity and respect, and the value of community. That's what Middle England is. 'You will find Liberal Democrats, yes, in the south of England; yes, in the West Country. 'But we put up a very strong showing in the north of England . . . running Reform close in Hull and East Yorkshire.'
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Government cuts therapy funding for adopted children
The government is facing a backlash for "slipping out" cuts to the amount that families can access for adopted children to have therapy. The Fair Access Limit (FAL) will be reduced from £5,000 to £3,000 as part of a package of changes to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Fund (ASGF), which helped nearly 20,000 children last year. Politics Live: The cuts were confirmed in an email to the sector over parliament's Easter recess rather than through a formal announcement. The email, seen by Sky News, says the ASGF will continue from April 2025 with a budget of £50m, the same as last year, but there will be changes to how it is allocated. This includes cutting the limit of grants for therapy by 40% and scrapping a separate allowance of £2,500 for specialist assessments. Specialist assessments up to the level of £2,500 will be considered for funding, but only within the overall limit of £3,000. In addition, the government will no longer match fund more expensive therapy above the limits. The letter said: "We recognise that this is a significant change, but it is being made to ensure that the funding can continue to support as many families as possible. "The Adoption and Special Guardianship Fund will still enable those eligible to access a significant package of therapeutic support, tailored to meet their individual needs." The ASGF helped 16,333 children in the year 2023/24, up from 14,862 the previous financial year. 'Deep concerns' Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson criticised the government for "slipping out" the changes during recess, despite her raising an urgent question in the Commons on 1 April over whether the funding would continue. At the time, children and families minister Janet Daby responded to confirm £50m had been allocated overall and apologised for the delay in saying so, but didn't mention the cuts. The future of the ASGF had been in doubt up until then, as it was due to run out in March 2025. In a letter to Education Secretary , Ms Wilson said it is "unacceptable the government took so long to confirm the fund and even more unacceptable that MPs were provided with incomplete information". She called on ministers to reverse the "deeply concerning" cuts, saying she and her parliamentary colleagues have been contacted by constituents "sharing the deeply traumatic stories children in their care have experienced". She said the changes will have a "huge impact on the quality of life" for vulnerable children and even in light of the fiscal challenges "cannot be justified". 'Most adopted children have suffered abuse or neglect' Charities have also hit out at the government with Adoption UK saying the decision is a consequence of "belt tightening across government". The organisation says around 3,000 children in England are placed in adoptive families each year, and most have suffered abuse, neglect, or violence and spend an average of 15 months in care before adoption - so need therapy for most of their life. CEO Emily Frith said: "These decisions will have a direct impact on children and young people who have had a very tough start in life and deserve the same chance to thrive as everyone else. "It's very short-sighted at a time when there are more adoptive families in crisis than ever before, and distressing news for everyone who has already faced an agonising wait to find out whether the fund will continue to exist at all." Kinship, which supports people who step in to raise a friend or family member's child, warned 13% of carers are concerned about their ability to carry on because of behavioural difficulties stemming from trauma and loss, so the cuts risk family breakdowns and "children entering an already overstretched care system". Both charities called on the government to rethink the changes at the June Spending Review, when Chancellor will set out her plans for spending and key public sector reforms for future years. Ms Reeves is under pressure after announcing a , after poor economic growth and global instability wiped out her fiscal headroom. The chancellor is determined to keep the headroom as part of her self-imposed fiscal rules, which require day-to-day spending to be met through tax receipts rather than borrowing. But there is concern the headroom is even more fragile amid , meaning further cuts or tax rises could be on the cards. The Department for Education has been contacted for comment.
Sky News
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Government cuts therapy funding for adopted children
The government is facing a backlash for "slipping out" cuts to the amount that families can access for adopted children to have therapy. The Fair Access Limit (FAL) will be reduced from £5,000 to £3,000 as part of a package of changes to the Adoption and Special Guardianship Fund (ASGF), which helped nearly 20,000 children last year. The cuts were confirmed in an email to the sector over parliament's Easter recess rather than through a formal announcement. The email, seen by Sky News, says the ASGF will continue from April 2025 with a budget of £50m, the same as last year, but there will be changes to how it is allocated. This includes cutting the limit of grants for therapy by 40% and scrapping a separate allowance of £2,500 for specialist assessments. Specialist assessments up to the level of £2,500 will be considered for funding, but only within the overall limit of £3,000. In addition, the government will no longer match fund more expensive therapy above the limits. The letter said: "We recognise that this is a significant change, but it is being made to ensure that the funding can continue to support as many families as possible. "The Adoption and Special Guardianship Fund will still enable those eligible to access a significant package of therapeutic support, tailored to meet their individual needs." The ASGF helped 16,333 children in the year 2023/24, up from 14,862 the previous financial year. 'Deep concerns' Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson criticised the government for "slipping out" the changes during recess, despite her raising an urgent question in the Commons on 1 April over whether the funding would continue. At the time, children and families minister Janet Daby responded to confirm £50m had been allocated overall and apologised for the delay in saying so, but didn't mention the cuts. The future of the ASGF had been in doubt up until then, as it was due to run out in March 2025. In a letter to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, Ms Wilson said it is "unacceptable the government took so long to confirm the fund and even more unacceptable that MPs were provided with incomplete information". She called on ministers to reverse the "deeply concerning" cuts, saying she and her parliamentary colleagues have been contacted by constituents "sharing the deeply traumatic stories children in their care have experienced". She said the changes will have a "huge impact on the quality of life" for vulnerable children and even in light of the fiscal challenges "cannot be justified". Charities have also hit out at the government with Adoption UK saying the decision is a consequence of "belt tightening across government". The organisation says around 3,000 children in England are placed in adoptive families each year, and most have suffered abuse, neglect, or violence and spend an average of 15 months in care before adoption - so need therapy for most of their life. CEO Emily Frith said: "These decisions will have a direct impact on children and young people who have had a very tough start in life and deserve the same chance to thrive as everyone else. "It's very short-sighted at a time when there are more adoptive families in crisis than ever before, and distressing news for everyone who has already faced an agonising wait to find out whether the fund will continue to exist at all." Kinship, which supports people who step in to raise a friend or family member's child, warned 13% of carers are concerned about their ability to carry on because of behavioural difficulties stemming from trauma and loss, so the cuts risk family breakdowns and "children entering an already overstretched care system". Both charities called on the government to rethink the changes at the June Spending Review, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves will set out her plans for spending and key public sector reforms for future years. Ms Reeves is under pressure after announcing a raft of cuts in her spring statement, after poor economic growth and global instability wiped out her fiscal headroom. The chancellor is determined to keep the headroom as part of her self-imposed fiscal rules, which require day-to-day spending to be met through tax receipts rather than borrowing. But there is concern the headroom is even more fragile amid Donald Trump's global trade tariffs, meaning further cuts or tax rises could be on the cards.
