Latest news with #RomillyWeeks
ITV News
14 hours ago
- Business
- ITV News
Government publishes flagship welfare reforms as Labour rebellion looms
The government is braced for a renewed back-bench backlash after publishing plans to save billions from the welfare bill, as ITV News Political Correspondent Romilly Weeks reports The introduction of proposed legislation to reform the welfare system 'marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity', the work and pensions secretary has said. Liz Kendall's words come amid a backlash from some Labour MPs who have criticised the 'awful' cuts to welfare – which the government hopes can save up to £5 billion a year. The reforms – aimed at encouraging more people off sickness benefits and into work – are set to include the tightening of criteria for personal independence payment (Pip), which is the main disability benefit, as well as a cut to the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC) and delayed access to only those aged 22 and over. Ministers are likely to face a Commons stand-off with backbench Labour MPs over their plans, with dozens of them last month saying the proposals were 'impossible to support'. In what could be seen as an attempt to head off some opposition, the legislation, known as the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill – will give existing claimants a 13-week period of financial support. The Department for Work and Pensions said this will apply to those affected by changes to the Pip daily living component, including those who lose their eligibility to Carers Allowance and the carer's element of UC. But campaigners, including disability equality charity Scope, said the longer transition period, up from an originally expected four weeks, 'will only temporarily delay a cut and disabled people will continue to be living with extra costs when it comes to an end'. Food bank network Trussell said: 'The last-minute details on protections offer something for a small proportion of people, but even they will still see a real-terms cut. 'The reality of this Bill is still record cuts in support for disabled people, and the biggest cuts to social security since 2015.' Contrary to Kendall's words, learning disability charity Mencap accused the government of having 'confirmed the choice to turn its back on thousands of disabled people and by pushing ahead with these welfare reforms, they are causing a huge amount of anxiety'. Kendall said: 'Our social security system is at a crossroads. Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it. 'This legislation represents a new social contract and marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity. 'This will give people peace of mind, while also fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot – putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.' As the Bill was formally introduced to the Commons on Wednesday, and the question asked as to what the next date for debate will be, Labour backbencher and former shadow chancellor John McDonnell could be heard to say 'Never'. A date has not yet been confirmed. Louise Murphy, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation think tank, said the longer period of protection for those affected by Pip cuts is 'a sensible tweak that should ease the blow for those who are no longer eligible for support'. But she criticised extra funding for employment support not coming fully into effect until 2029 at the earliest, saying: 'While ministers have softened the stick of welfare cuts, they have not strengthened the carrot of greater employment support.' Sir Keir Starmer said he was 'determined' to ensure the reforms go through because he feels the welfare system 'doesn't work for anyone'. 'It doesn't work for those that want to get back to work, and it certainly doesn't work for the taxpayer,' the Prime Minister told Good Morning Britain, saying 'those that need to be protected should be protected'. 'If you need help in support to get into work, the Government should be providing that support and help to get into work,' he said. 'If you do have conditions, disabilities that mean it is impossible for you to work, then you need to be properly protected and supported.' How many people will be affected? The latest data, published on Tuesday, showed that more than 3.7 million people in England and Wales are claiming Pip, with teenagers and young adults making up a growing proportion. The figures, published by the Department for Work and Pensions, showed there were a record 3.74 million people in England and Wales claiming Pip as of April this year. The figure is up from 3.69 million in January and a jump of 200,000 from 3.54 million a year earlier. Data for Pip claimants begins in January 2019, when the number stood at 2.05 million. Pip is a benefit aimed at helping with extra living costs if someone has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of their condition. An impact assessment published alongside Wednesday's Bill introduction, confirmed previously published estimates that changes to Pip entitlement rules could see about 800,000 people lose out, with an average loss of £4,500 per year. Kendall previously said there are 1,000 new Pip awards every day – 'the equivalent of adding a city the size of Leicester every single year'. The impact assessment also confirmed a previous estimate that some 250,000 more people, including 50,000 children, are likely to fall into relative poverty after housing costs in 2029/2030, although the government repeated that this does not take into account the potentially positive impact of £1 billion annual funding by then for measures to support people into work. Changes to UC are expected to see an estimated 2.25 million current recipients of the health element impacted, with an average loss of £500 per year. But the government said around 3.9 million households not on the UC health element are expected to have an average annual gain of £265 from the increase in the standard UC allowance. While all of the Bill applies to England and Wales, only the UC changes apply to Scotland. The government said there are equivalent provisions to legislate for Northern Ireland included in the Bill.
STV News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- STV News
How a mother's campaign after the murder of her autistic son could change law
Fiona Laskaris has been fighting for years for a change in law she believes could have saved her autistic son Christopher, as Romilly Weeks reports Health secretary Wes Streeting has said he is considering 'very carefully' a law change that a mother believes could have saved her autistic son, who was murdered. As the Mental Health Bill returned to the House of Commons on Monday evening, cross-party MPs urged the government to back a change in law that would allow families to request mental capacity assessments for vulnerable loved ones. It comes following years of campaigning by Fiona Laskaris, whose 24-year-old son Christopher was exploited and ultimately murdered by a convicted criminal in his own home in 2016. She was repeatedly dismissed for years when she tried to get Christopher a mental capacity assessment, which establishes whether someone has the ability to make decisions about their own safety and wellbeing, and helps determine what support they may need. She believes that if her concerns had been listened to, he would still be alive today. Since ITV News aired Fiona's story and the prime minister's subsequent pledge in the Commons to 'look into' the law change, we have been contacted by other families who are also battling to get mental capacity assessments. One father told of the 'horrific' experience he had trying to help his autistic daughter out of a coercive and controlling relationship with a man, who exploited her and 'drained' her finances. Now, Fiona is determined to stop other families from going through the same pain that her family has endured. And in what is the strongest indication yet that Fiona's pleas may be answered by the government, the health secretary pledged in the Commons that he would work to improve the law. As the mother watched from the gallery, Streeting told MPs: 'We are considering very carefully the arguments that have been raised and looking at what we can do within this bill to advance things in the way that Fiona, and others like her, would like to see. 'We'll continue that engagement throughout the passage of the bill and see if there is a workable way in which we can improve this bill to make sure that others do not have to go through the unimaginable heartbreak that Fiona is living with every day.' The health secretary also thanked the mother for her 'campaigning work in completely unimaginable circumstances for those who haven't walked in her shoes and experienced the kind of grief that she is experiencing'. Liberal Democrat MP Cris Coghlan, who is one of three cross-party MPs urging the government to back the change, paid an emotional tribute to Fiona's refusal to give up in the Commons on Monday. 'If we do succeed, it will be above all because of the voices of the broken but unbeaten parents, like Fiona, demanding change.' Watch MP Chris Coghlan's emotional speech in full: Coghlan, who grew up in the same house where Fiona and Christopher later lived, promised her before he became an MP last year that, should he be elected, he would bring her fight to Parliament. He stayed true to his word and dedicated his maiden speech to her son – as well as his speech on Monday night. He told MPs as he urged them to back the law change: 'Although this amendment is only a small part of the answer, it is an answer to save lives. 'If one grieving mother can change the law, then perhaps we can answer the other things too, and if we do succeed, it will be above all because of the voices of the broken but unbeaten parents, like Fiona, demanding change. 'Now it is up to us, to make Fiona a witness that in our country it is possible for the vulnerable to be heard, injustice to be overcome and to find beyond grief, hope.' 'Her finances were drained… she was forced to shave her head' One father, who had been fighting for a mental capacity assessment for his autistic daughter with learning difficulties, told ITV News how she was placed by social services in a house with five unknown men. Ian explained how this led to 'horrific' consequences, with her being controlled 'physically and financially' by one of those men. Despite Ian and his wife's concerns, they were shut out by social services. 'We felt we lost our daughter for over 12 months,' Ian said, recalling the ordeal. Ian told of how he battled to get a mental capacity assessment for his autistic daughter. / Credit: ITV News 'This is a 25-year-old vulnerable young lady in a house with very limited support, with five adult males,' he continued. 'Within a couple of weeks she became involved in a controlling and coercive relationship with an adult who was over twice her age… it was just horrendous. 'Her finances were drained, she was doing everything that this individual was asking her or telling her to do. 'I think the worst bit for us as parents was when she was forced to shave her head.' His worst fears were realised when he received a call from his daughter's support worker asking Ian to provide her passport. 'It transpired that within six weeks of this controlling, coercive relationship, they were going to get married,' he said. 'I obviously wouldn't release the passport. However, the support worker was told by the social worker team that our daughter had assumed capacity, so was able to make those decisions of her own free will.' 'No capacity assessments were carried out,' he added. 'We were never asked. And they used the term 'assumed capacity'. 'Assumed' all the time. 'I was in tears. Devastating to think that that could have happened.' After a lengthy 'battle', Ian's daughter is finally in safe and supported living accommodation and she – and the family – are in a 'much better place now'. Speaking of the proposed law change, he added: 'The government have to act on this, it's a necessity. I'm just one of many that could tell a similar story.' What is the Mental Capacity Act and how could the law change? The Mental Capacity Act was introduced in 2005 in a bid to minimise the number of vulnerable adults being detained unreasonably and indefinitely, and to give them more autonomy over their own care. It states that as a starting point, everyone should be presumed to have the capacity to make their own decisions about their own safety and wellbeing, and that assessment should be carried out if their capacity is in doubt. However, research has found that such assessments are either not carried out enough or are not carried out effectively – in particular on autistic people, adults with learning disabilities or those with severe mental health conditions, such as bipolar and schizophrenia. 'Losing a child is the worst thing that can happen to anyone, but I think a preventable death is the very worst,' Fiona Laskaris previously told ITV News. Watch Romilly Weeks' report: Their insistence that they can cope is often taken at face value without considering their past history and loved ones' concerns. This means that – as in Christopher Laskaris' case – they are left without the support they need. Fiona and three MPs – the former health secretary Jeremy Hunt (Conservatives), Chris Coghlan (Lib Dems) and Jake Richards (Labour) – are calling for an amendment to the Mental Capacity Act to ensure family members' views are taken into account when deciding if someone needs a mental capacity assessment. They, along with the National Autistic Society, agree that the current system is failing autistic adults like Christopher, as well as other adults with learning disabilities and mental health illnesses, at times with catastrophic consequences. They are concerned there are potentially hundreds of preventable deaths per year due to this issue, with recent research by King's College London finding The Mental Capacity Act was not followed in a quarter of the deaths of autistic people and those with learning disabilities in 2022 alone. To hear more about Christopher's life and the Mental Capacity Act, listen below to the podcast episode titled: 'The mum fighting for a law change after her autistic son's murder'… If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, help and support is available: Samaritans is an organisation offering confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Phone 116 123 (a free 24-hour helpline). The National Autistic Society offers free help and guidance for autistic people or anyone supporting someone who is autistic. Anyone who needs urgent support can find information here. Bipolar UK offers free support to anyone affected by bipolar. If you need urgent help, phone their helpline on 0333 323 3880. offers free support to anyone affected by bipolar. If you need urgent help, phone their helpline on 0333 323 3880. Access Social Care provides free legal advice and information for people with social care needs and helps them to achieve a better quality of life. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
ITV News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
How a mother's campaign after the murder of her autistic son could change the law
Fiona Laskaris has been fighting for years for a change in law she believes could have saved her autistic son, as Romilly Weeks reports Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said he is considering "very carefully" a law change that a mother believes could have saved her autistic son, who was murdered. As the Mental Health Bill returned to the House of Commons on Monday evening, cross-party MPs urged the government to back a change in law that would allow families to request mental capacity assessments for vulnerable loved ones. It comes following years of campaigning by Fiona Laskaris, whose 24-year-old son Christopher was exploited and ultimately murdered by a convicted criminal in his own home in 2016. She was repeatedly dismissed for years when she tried to get Christopher a mental capacity assessment, which establishes whether someone has the ability to make decisions about their own safety and wellbeing, and helps determine what support they may need. She believes that if her concerns had been listened to, he would still be alive today. Since ITV News aired Fiona's story and the prime minister's subsequent pledge in the Commons to "look into" the law change, we have been contacted by other families who are also battling to get mental capacity assessments. One father told of the "horrific" experience he had trying to help his autistic daughter out of a coercive and controlling relationship with a man, who exploited her and "drained" her finances. Now, Fiona is determined to stop other families from going through the same pain that her family has endured. And in what is the strongest indication yet that Fiona's pleas may be answered by the government, the health secretary pledged in the Commons that he would work to improve the law. As the mother watched from the gallery, Streeting told MPs: "We are considering very carefully the arguments that have been raised and looking at what we can do within this bill to advance things in the way that Fiona, and others like her, would like to see. "We'll continue that engagement throughout the passage of the bill and see if there is a workable way in which we can improve this bill to make sure that others do not have to go through the unimaginable heartbreak that Fiona is living with every day." The health secretary also thanked the mother for her "campaigning work in completely unimaginable circumstances for those who haven't walked in her shoes and experienced the kind of grief that she is experiencing". Liberal Democrat MP Cris Coghlan, who is one of three cross-party MPs urging the government to back the change, paid an emotional tribute to Fiona's refusal to give up in the Commons on Monday. Coghlan, who grew up in the same house where Fiona and Christopher later lived, promised her before he became an MP last year that, should he be elected, he would bring her fight to Parliament. He stayed true to his word and dedicated his maiden speech to her son - as well as his speech on Monday night. He told MPs as he urged them to back the law change: "Although this amendment is only a small part of the answer, it is an answer to save lives. "If one grieving mother can change the law, then perhaps we can answer the other things too, and if we do succeed, it will be above all because of the voices of the broken but unbeaten parents, like Fiona, demanding change. "Now it is up to us, to make Fiona a witness that in our country it is possible for the vulnerable to be heard, injustice to be overcome and to find beyond grief, hope." What is the Mental Capacity Act and how could the law change? The Mental Capacity Act was introduced in 2005 in a bid to minimise the number of vulnerable adults being detained unreasonably and indefinitely, and to give them more autonomy over their own care. It states that as a starting point, everyone should be presumed to have the capacity to make their own decisions about their own safety and wellbeing, and that assessment should be carried out if their capacity is in doubt. However, research has found that such assessments are either not carried out enough or are not carried out effectively - in particular on autistic people, adults with learning disabilities or those with severe mental health conditions, such as bipolar and schizophrenia. Their insistence that they can cope is often taken at face value without considering their past history and loved ones' concerns. This means that - as in Christopher Laskaris' case - they are left without the support they need. Fiona and three MPs - the former health secretary Jeremy Hunt (Conservatives), Chris Coghlan (Lib Dems) and Jake Richards (Labour) - are calling for an amendment to the Mental Capacity Act to ensure family members' views are taken into account when deciding if someone needs a mental capacity assessment. They, along with the National Autistic Society, agree that the current system is failing autistic adults like Christopher, as well as other adults with learning disabilities and mental health illnesses, at times with catastrophic consequences. They are concerned there are potentially hundreds of preventable deaths per year due to this issue, with recent research by King's College London finding The Mental Capacity Act was not followed in a quarter of the deaths of autistic people and those with learning disabilities in 2022 alone. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, help and support is available:
