Timms Review complaint: Welsh call for independent review

 Action, All Posts, Benefits, local authority cuts, local groups, News, PIP, Politics, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms  No Responses »
Jul 192026
 
DPAC Logo with text underneath "Disabled People Against Cuts" and then web address dpac.uk.net
Logos of DPAC Cymru, Voices ADFOCAD, Don't Call Me Special, Social Workers Union, Unite Community Wales, Austerity Action Group, TSSA Wales No.1 Branch, Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union, PCS Cymru, Swansea and district trades council, Cardiff trades council, and the National Shop Stewards Network

A powerful coalition of Welsh disability, carers’, and trade union organisations wrote to the Welsh Government on Tuesday asking ministers to lodge their “strongest possible grievance” with the UK Government over the Timms Review into the PIP disability benefit.

The UK-wide review was announced in parliament late last year, with promises of “co-production” with disabled people, and a pledge of no further cuts until its conclusion. However, Welsh Disabled Peoples’ Organisations are adamant that co-production is not happening, with Welsh disabled people, they claim, treated with particular contempt.

The intervention came in the final week before the Senedd summer recess, after local authorities, including Swansea Council, admitted they have made “no provision” for impending disability cuts in their medium-term budgets.

The groups have asked the new Welsh Government to deliver on its promise of providing practical assistance in achieving a “long standing demand” of “a genuine disability review, led independently and democratically by disabled people and our organisations, including our trade unions.”

The letter was coordinated by Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (DPAC Cymru). Co-signatories include Disabled Peoples’ Organisations, unpaid Carers’ Organisations, and trade union organisations.

Statements from signatories:

Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (DPAC Cymru) led several high-profile protests against the disability cuts last year. A spokesperson for the group said they intend to hold the UK Government to the promises they made to parliament:

“The Timms Review was won by protest, but it is not what was promised. We are asking the Welsh Government to join us in setting out a clear expectation that the UK Government may not table further disability cuts while a genuine and independent review takes place in Wales.

“MPs, whatever their views, must also refuse, on principle, to vote for disability cuts for the duration.

“All we’re demanding from Westminster here is a fair fight. Enough with the broken promises, misdirection, and insults.”

VOICES ADFOCAD operates across Wales to promote and advocate for the rights of Unpaid Carers. A spokesperson said:

“Disabled people in Wales have been clear for years: we will not accept reviews that speak about us while shutting us out. The Timms Review has failed to meet even the most basic standards of co‑production, and Welsh disabled people have been treated with disregard throughout the process.

“We are asking Welsh ministers to intervene because our communities deserve a review that is democratic, accountable, and led by disabled people ourselves, not another exercise that reinforces the inequality we are fighting to dismantle.”

Plaid Cymru Anabledd is the disabled members’ section of Plaid Cymru, the party that leads Wales’ new minority government. A spokesperson for the section said:

“The Welsh Government must use every lever it has to demand a genuine, independent review — led by disabled people, our organisations and our trade unions. Anything less is not co-production, it’s a rubber stamp.

“Disabled people were told we would be worked with. Instead we’ve been worked around. That promise the labour Westminster government made has to mean something — or it was never made in good faith.”

Social Workers Union (SWU) General Secretary John McGowan stated:

“Disability benefits are not luxuries. The PIP disability benefit is a crucial support to help disabled people meet the extra costs of disability and long-term ill health and to support their independence. We urge the Welsh Government to join DPAC Cymru in demanding an independent review on PIP cuts which would impact on 275,000 people in Wales.

“No further cuts must be made until a genuinely co-produced disability review has been achieved, and the focus should be on improving the system rather than further restricting access to it. To do otherwise will cause significant hardship for people with physical and mental health conditions – pushing them out of work and into deep poverty – and put further strain on the social care system already stretched to breaking point by chronic underfunding and a staffing crisis.”

Sarah Woolley, General Secretary of the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union (BFAWU), said:

“Disabled people have the right to dignity, independence and a decent standard of living. If the Timms Review is to have credibility, it must genuinely be led with disabled people, not simply carried out in their name.

“Our members know the reality of low pay, insecure work and rising living costs. Personal Independence Payment helps meet the extra costs of disability, and further cuts would push more people into hardship while placing even greater pressure on public services.

“BFAWU stands in solidarity with Disabled People’s Organisations and supports the call for an independent review, led by disabled people and their organisations, including trade unions. No further disability cuts should be made until that work has been properly completed.”

Mark Evans is the secretary of Swansea and District Trades Council, which brings together affiliated branches and represents the community arm of the trade union movement in the Swansea area. He said:

“Our Trades Council thinks it is deplorable that a Labour Government has not properly and fully consulted Disabled People in compiling the Timms review. Many disabled people are members of trade unions that are affiliated to the Labour Party and many will rightly be considering why their union donates to a party that has attacked disability benefits in the past and given the lack of consultation is likely to do so again. If this is the case we will will be fully supporting disabled trade union members.”

Responding to the Timms Review interim report released last week, a DPAC Cymru spokesperson added:

“The Timms Review is badly dressed in the language of disability activism, but uses none of the methods. About the only thing the interim report gets right is that PIP is not fit for purpose.

“Disabled people, more than anyone, want a better system. The Timms Review will not deliver that because it is not designed to. The review is weaponising our concerns in order to justify cuts in a ‘caring’ way. Meanwhile, the ‘nasty’ arm of the UK Government is demonising us. Caught in that pincer movement, disabled people are a political football.

This has nothing to do with balancing the books. When the last attempt at welfare reform introduced a more punitive benefit system, it too ended up costing more than it saved. The Timms Review is about divide and rule, pure and simple. It is a cynical distraction from falling living standards and a failing economy. Defeating disability cuts is a fight for everyone.”

The letter text

Dear:

Rhun ap Iorwerth, First Minister of Wales
Sioned Williams, Deputy First Minister of Wales

14th July 2026

RE: disability cuts and the Timms Review

The new Welsh Government has made a welcome commitment to delivering a robust and action-oriented Disabled People’s Rights Plan. UK Government disability cuts are a serious risk to that plan, and a crisis in the making.

Concerningly, major Welsh local authorities like Swansea Council already admit they have made “no provision” for disability cuts in their medium-term budgets.

The UK Government was forced to promise in parliament that there would be no further cuts until the conclusion of a review, co-produced with disabled people – the Timms Review. The UK Government has proven itself, many times over, unable and unwilling to keep that promise. Despite its claims, the Timms Review is not delivering co-production, and cuts are continuing.

We are therefore writing to you, as Disabled People’s Organisations, unpaid Carers’ Organisations, and trade union organisations, with two requests:

1. We kindly request that the Welsh Government formally lodge with the UK Government our strongest possible grievance over the delivery of the Timms Review and disability cuts ‘consultation’ process since March 2025. It has been blatant: we have been treated badly because we are disabled people, and we have been treated badly because we are Welsh.

2. We also request the Welsh Government take concrete steps to provide practical assistance in achieving our long standing demand: an independent and genuine disability review, led by disabled people and our organisations including our trade unions, inviting the views of carers and the workers who deliver the services we rely on.

Despite themselves, we intend to hold the UK Government to the promise they made. We hope that you will join us in making clear the expectation that the UK Government may not table further disability cuts while a genuine and independent review takes place in Wales, and that MPs, whatever their views, must also refuse, on principle, to vote for disability cuts for the duration.

Specific points, such as what we suggest by the Welsh Government providing practical assistance, and our specific democratic grievances with the UK Government, are developed in the attached briefing.

Yours sincerely,

Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (DPAC Cymru)
VOICES ADFOCAD
Don’t Call Me Special
Plaid Cymru Anabledd
Prof. Debbie Foster, Former co-Chair of the Welsh Government’s Disability Rights Taskforce.
Gemma Southgate, TSSA Wales & Western Executive Committee Member
Siân Boyles, PCS National officer for Wales
Mark Evans, Secretary, Swansea and District Trades Council
Cardiff Trades Council
TSSA Wales No.1 Branch
PCS Wales
PCS Proud
Unite Community Wales
Unite Community, Cardiff & Area
Social Workers Union (SWU)
Austerity Action Group (AAG)
Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU)
National Shop Stewards Network (NSSN)

The letter to the Welsh Government and attached briefing is available here

For press enquires contact dpac.cymru+press@gmail.com

Protest the budget in Swansea

 Action, All Posts, Disability Activism, local groups, Motability, News, PIP, Politics, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms  No Responses »
Nov 182025
 
DPAC Logo with text underneath "Disabled People Against Cuts" and then web address dpac.uk.net

A vector graphic with an arm holding a wine-coloured megaphone. A spikey speech bubble points to the microphone and says, in all caps, "protest the budget"

 

Saturday 29th November

1pm @ Swansea Castle

With Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (DPAC Cymru) and others.

No disability cuts.

Hands of Motability.

Living wages.

Pension justice.

Rent control.

Trade union rights.

No to hate & division.

Make the rich pay.

 

The budget is being written by the Swansea West MP.

A photo of a mobile billboard featuring the face of the Torsten Bell MP. Text, in black on yellow, says: "Swansea West: £4,500 disability cuts backed by your MP." Text, in white on black says "11,592 disabled people here rely on that support. Torsten Bell supports these cuts. Protest disability support." At the bottom-right is the Amnesty International logo, which is black on yellow.

Disabled people defeated his Spring Statement & PIP disability cuts. Now he’s back with another anti-working-class budget. We will defeat him again.

First Bus workers are on strike over low pay.

65 student nurses have been told there are no vacancies when they graduate.

£25 million of job cuts at Swansea University.

Disabled people are still fighting cuts and Swansea women are still fighting for pension justice.

Politicians try to divide us by blaming migrants, low-paid workers, trans people & disabled people.

“An injury to one is an injury to all”

 

We want to co-organise a protest with everyone affected by the budget.

Contact Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (DPAC Cymru)

Swansea – Protest the budget (PDF for printing)

A graphic of the DPAC Cymru logo. There is the main DPAC logo to the left, which is a red, pink, blue, and green circle being held by four hands of different skin tones, with the words "disabled people against cuts" surrounding it, and an upside-down black traingle in the middle bearing the letters D P A C. On the right is the word Cymru (pronounced cum ree) (C Y M R U) in large letters, and the background of the letters are cutouts of the Welsh flag. Above Cymru (pronounced cum ree) is written the words Disabled People Against Cuts. Below Cymru (pronounced cum ree) are the words Rights, not charity, and the equivilant phrase translated into the Welsh language.

This is a graphic advertising a protest in Swansea on the 29th November. There are striped green and red corners with the text "Swansea" along the diagonal. A speech bubble that says "protest the budget" is exiting a megaphone. There are three clasped hands of different skin tones and the text "an injury to one is an injury to all" curves around them. Large text says "Saturday 29th November. 1pm at Swansea Castle, S A 1, 1 D W." Smaller text says "With Disabled People Against Cuts (D P A C) and others." Beneath, with a ripped paper effect, is text that says "no disability cuts. Hands off motability. Living wages. Pension justice. Rent control. Trade union rights. No to hate & division. Make the rich pay."

This is a graphic advertising a protest in Swansea on the 29th November. There are striped green and red corners with the text "Swansea" and "Protest" along the diagonals, and the text "budget" in the center. Beneath, in all-caps, is the text "Sat. 29 November. 1pm @ Swansea Castle." In the centre of the leaflet is text that starts in bold with "The budget is being written by the Swansea West MP." The text continues: "Disabled people defeated his Spring Statement & PIP disability cuts. Now he’s back with another anti-working-class budget. We will defeat him again." There are then five bullet points that say: "First Bus workers are on strike over low pay. 65 student nurses have been told there are no vacancies when they graduate. £25 million of job cuts at Swansea University. Disabled people are still fighting cuts and Swansea women are still fighting for pension justice. Politicians try to divide us by blaming migrants, low-paid workers, trans people & disabled people." At the bottom, with a ripped paper effect and a pink background, is the D P A C Cymru logo - a red, green, blue and pink wheel being held by four hands of different skin tones. To the right is a blue box that asks "Your org's logo here?" and text that says "We want to co-organise a protest with everyone affected by the budget", the email D P A C dot C Y M R U at gmail.com and the website "D P A C hyphen C Y M R U dot C A R R D dot C O."

Disability minister Stephen Timms under fire in LBC interview

 Action, All Posts, Benefits, Disability Activism, Disability Rights, DWP, Letters, local groups, News, PIP, Politics, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms, Write to your MP  2 Responses »
Sep 132025
 
DPAC Logo with text underneath "Disabled People Against Cuts" and then web address dpac.uk.net

Calls for an independent PIP review with UK minister under fire

A Welsh disability group is calling for an independent review of Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (DPAC Cymru) has accused the disability minister Stephen Timms of failing to properly lead his own review into the disability benefit, saying that “co-production is not taking place as promised.”

Speaking exclusively to LBC’s Welsh Correspondent Caitlin Parr, the group’s comments follow the Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms MP, meeting with the Welsh Government Disability Equality Forum on Tuesday 2nd.

LBC news reported that DPAC Cymru had long fought for disabled people’s voices to be heard in changes to welfare reforms, but were concerned that the minister, despite promises to engage widely over the summer, had so far left Welsh disabled people out of discussions around the review, outside of those forum meetings.

DPAC Cymru claims that Timm’s attendance at those recent forum meetings is “far too little and far too late for Welsh disabled people after months of stonewalling from Timms,” and said they were frustrated by “more promises but no action.”

Ben Golightly, from Swansea, is a coordinator for DPAC Cymru. He told LBC, “he [Timms] agreed in that meeting that it was important for Welsh disabled people and Welsh disabled people’s organisations to be heard. He was meant to talk about how he was delivering co-production. It was his job to do it. And he had no real update, because he hasn’t been doing that job.”

Despite promises from government ministers, DPAC Cymru say that co-production has not taken place, and they are “back to square one.”

Ben said, “We had hoped that after a major defeat in parliament that when he [Timms] promised co-production with disabled people, that we wouldn’t have to go through all of this again. There is so little trust in the way the government has treated disabled people that we need an independent review, led by disabled people, and Stephen Timms and the government should turn up and listen, but they should have no say over how it’s run because they’ve shown, throughout several months, that they’re unable to do it.”

Lee Ellery, an independent disability activist and lead press coordinator for DPAC Cymru, who has Cerebral palsy quadriplegic, agreed, telling LBC news it’s time more Welsh voices were heard.

Lee said, “people with disabilities, particularly in Wales, are left to the bottom of the pile so to speak, and we should be at the forefront of everything. I’m worried about what the result of the [PIP] review might come out to say, if the person who’s leading it doesn’t understand the whole process.”

LBC news reported that “the Timms review into PIP assessments is expected to conclude in Autumn 2026, when changes already decided on for new PIP claimants will come into force.”

DPAC Cymru’s calls for an independent review, made in an open letter released last Monday, has already received wide support, collecting 600 signatures and the support of representatives of more than twenty-five organisations.

Comments collected from respondents talk about their feelings of hurt, being “belittled,” “completely disregarded and isolated,” and the “harm and loss of trust” caused by Timms and the government.

Signatures on the open letter are open until the end of September.

Sign here

A notice graphic with a red tinted photograph of Stephen Timms as the background. Title text to the left of him reads: "We want an independent PIP review" with emphasis on the independent. A divider then separates the next header text that reads: "Nothing about us, without us!", followed by another divider. Body text then reads: "Please sign and share our open letter!" with an arrow pointing to a link: "bit.ly/independent-pip-review". The DPAC Cymru logo sits at the bottom of the screen.

Disability protests in Swansea and Cardiff to defeat the bill

 Action, All Posts, Disability Activism, local groups, News, PIP, Universal Credit, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms  No Responses »
Jul 032025
 
DPAC Logo with text underneath "Disabled People Against Cuts" and then web address dpac.uk.net

A poster about a protest. On a marble blue background with black bold text. It says: Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru. Disability Protest. Swansea - Cardiff. Below that is an image of three women protestors. One is in a wheelchair. They have a red flag, a red sheet, and a purple placard. They are dressed in red and purple. To the right is a red megaphone graphic. To the left is the DPAC logo. It is a red, pink, blue, green wheel being held by four hands of different skin tones. In the center is an upside down black triangle bearing the letters D P A C. Below, the text says: Cardiff - Monday 7th July. Meet 4pm outside Cardiff Central Library Hub. Swansea - Tuesday 8th July. Meet 4pm at Castle Square, Swansea. Organiser: 07410 303 652.

Disabled people in Wales will be protesting in Cardiff on Monday 7th, and in Swansea on Tuesday 8th.

We will be meeting at 4pm.

In Cardiff, meet outside Cardiff Central Library Hub.

In Swansea, meet at Castle Square.

All support is welcome! Bring friends and banners etc.

This is ahead of the vote on the bill on Wednesday 9th.

We want to defeat the Labour disability cuts bill entirely.

 

Why we are still protesting

⚫ The victory on changes to PIP is temporary. It’s a bad bill that will mean MPs voting to approve the results of a review in advance, before it happens.

⚫ We do not trust Stephen Timms to lead the PIP review. He has not acknowledged our concerns about the failures of the original consultation process.

⚫ Under 22s still face loosing Universal Credit health component – an injury to one is an injury to all and we won’t leave anyone behind!

⚫ The bill still contains cuts to Universal Credit for new claimants.

⚫ It’s very uncertain what the bill will mean for people on ESA.

⚫ It is a rushed bill and the government is acting undemocratically.

⚫ The government must stop and listen to disabled people and carers, and consider our consultation responses.

⚫ The bill must be withdrawn and time taken to get it right!

⚫ We have gone beyond “co-production”. This government is incapable of doing it. Disabled people must lead the process of welfare reform, involving carers and the workers delivering the welfare system. Not clueless ministers seeking short-term cost savings.

 

Swansea and Cardiff protest graphics for social media

A graphic of the DPAC Cymru logo. There is the main DPAC logo to the left, which is a red, pink, blue, and green circle being held by four hands of different skin tones, with the words "disabled people against cuts" surrounding it, and an upside-down black traingle in the middle bearing the letters D P A C. On the right is the word Cymru (pronounced cum ree) (C Y M R U) in large letters, and the background of the letters are cutouts of the Welsh flag. Above Cymru (pronounced cum ree) is written the words Disabled People Against Cuts. Below Cymru (pronounced cum ree) are the words Rights, not charity, and the equivilant phrase translated into the Welsh language.
Stop the Cuts This is our last chance! Date: Tuesday 8th July 2025 Time: 4:00pm Meeting point: Castle Square, Swansea, SA1 3PP what3words: ///bunny.extend.error MPs final vote for the Bill is 9th July so this is our last chance to take action against it. Labour want to cut disability benefits that people rely on to survive – we say stop the cuts! Listen to disabled people! Join us to tell Labour to kill the cuts, not disabled people. @DPAC_CYMRU #WelfareNotWarfare
Stop the Cuts This is our last chance! Date: Monday 7th July 2025 Time: 4:00pm Meeting point: Cardiff Central Library Hub, The Hayes, Cardiff, CF10 1FL what3words: ///rounds.unions.salsa MPs final vote for the Bill is 9th July so this is our last chance to take action against it. Labour want to cut disability benefits that people rely on to survive – we say stop the cuts! Listen to disabled people! Join us to tell Labour to kill the cuts, not disabled people. @DPAC_CYMRU #WelfareNotWarfare

A poster about a protest. On a marble blue background with black bold text. It says: Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru. Disability Protest. Swansea - Cardiff. Below that is an image of three women protestors. One is in a wheelchair. They have a red flag, a red sheet, and a purple placard. They are dressed in red and purple. To the right is a red megaphone graphic. To the left is the DPAC logo. It is a red, pink, blue, green wheel being held by four hands of different skin tones. In the center is an upside down black triangle bearing the letters D P A C. Below, the text says: Cardiff - Monday 7th July. Meet 4pm outside Cardiff Central Library Hub. Swansea - Tuesday 8th July. Meet 4pm at Castle Square, Swansea. Organiser: 07410 303 652.

A poster about a protest. On a marble blue background with black bold text. It says: Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru. Disability Protest. Swansea - Cardiff. Below that is an image of three women protestors. One is in a wheelchair. They have a red flag, a red sheet, and a purple placard. They are dressed in red and purple. To the right is a red megaphone graphic. To the left is the DPAC logo. It is a red, pink, blue, green wheel being held by four hands of different skin tones. In the center is an upside down black triangle bearing the letters D P A C. Below, the text says: Cardiff - Monday 7th July. Meet 4pm outside Cardiff Central Library Hub. Swansea - Tuesday 8th July. Meet 4pm at Castle Square, Swansea. Organiser: 07410 303 652.

Actions people in Wales can take NOW to help defeat the UK disability cuts bill.

 Action, All Posts, Disability Activism, Letters, local groups, PIP, Politics, Universal Credit, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms, write to your local councillor, Write to your MP  No Responses »
Jun 222025
 
DPAC Logo with text underneath "Disabled People Against Cuts" and then web address dpac.uk.net
A graphic of the DPAC Cymru logo. There is the main DPAC logo to the left, which is a red, pink, blue, and green circle being held by four hands of different skin tones, with the words "disabled people against cuts" surrounding it, and an upside-down black traingle in the middle bearing the letters D P A C. On the right is the word Cymru (pronounced cum ree) (C Y M R U) in large letters, and the background of the letters are cutouts of the Welsh flag. Above Cymru (pronounced cum ree) is written the words Disabled People Against Cuts. Below Cymru (pronounced cum ree) are the words Rights, not charity, and the equivilant phrase translated into the Welsh language.

The first vote in parliament is 1st July. Here’s a helpful guide to some things people in Wales can do NOW to help defeat the welfare cuts bill.

These actions are specifically customised for people in Wales, and includes lobbying the Welsh government. However, people not living in Wales might still find the resources useful with small adaptations.

Print out a window poster

Stick it in your window, or on workplace or community noticeboards.

Ready-made

Make your own!

Send yours in!

Contributions welcome! Please send it in to swaneadpac@gmail.com and/or dpaccardiffandvalleys@gmail.com

 

  1. Write to ALL of your elected representatives.

Follow each link for instructions and template letters.

 

  1. Write to the press

 

  1. Get involved!

Here are some ideas (there are many more ways to get involved in addition to those listed here):

  • Share this resource!

    • Bit.Ly/DPAC-Cymru-Defeat-The-Bill
  • Research joining a political party that aligns with your views.

 

Welsh MP, disability, and carers groups against cuts to disability benefits

 All Posts, Benefits, Disability Rights, DWP, Letters, PIP, Universal Credit, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms  No Responses »
Jun 192025
 
DPAC Logo with text underneath "Disabled People Against Cuts" and then web address dpac.uk.net

Below is an extract of a letter from Steve Witherden MP, which was co-signed and enthusiastically supported by unanimous democratic votes of Swansea and Cardiff & Valleys Disabled People Against Cuts groups, calling for the disability benefit cuts to be abandoned, and for disabled people to be involved in the reform of the welfare system.

Dear Secretary of State,

Impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper on Wales

The Pathways to Work Green Paper poses a significant threat to over 275,000 Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and 110,000 Universal Credit (UC) recipients in Wales.

The proposals to tighten PIP eligibility and cut the UC health element will push thousands deeper into poverty. Wales will be hit particularly hard.

Policy in Practise’s latest report, The impact of disability benefit reforms in Wales, sees household incomes of an individual in Wales receiving both PIP and the UC Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity element cut by 68% as a result of these reforms.

The knock-on effects will place additional strain on the public sector, including local authorities, health boards, and charitable organisations. The Welsh economy is consequently set to lose an estimated £470 million annually.

We therefore urge you to:

1. Abandon current plans to withdraw disability-related benefits.

2. Meaningfully involve disabled people in the design and delivery of any future reforms.

3. Provide transparency on how these changes will affect Wales and interact with devolved responsibilities.

4. Reform the system to support, not hinder, disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.

The UK Government must safeguard the welfare state for those who need it most.

Without meaningful reform, these proposals will deepen hardship and entrench inequality in Wales.

Yours sincerely,

Steve Witherden MP
Disability Rights UK
Disability Wales
Coalition Against Benefit Cuts
Carers Wales
All Wales People First
Torfaen Access Forum
Disability Arts Cymru
Swansea DPAC
Cardiff & Valleys DPAC
Headway – the brain injury association

The letter on Facebook

The letter on X (Twitter)

 

A letter on house of commons paper.

A letter on house of commons paper.

Cardiff disability cuts consultation protest 23rd June

 Action, All Posts, Disability Activism, DWP, local groups, PIP, Universal Credit, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms  No Responses »
Jun 182025
 
DPAC Logo with text underneath "Disabled People Against Cuts" and then web address dpac.uk.net

Protest outside Cardiff disability cuts consultation

Cymraeg (Welsh) : Protest tu allan ymgynghoriad toriadau anabledd Caerdydd

 

Important update

The DWP have rescheduled their consultation on the disability cuts. The venue is now much more accessible and has better transport links.

This was the result of disabled voices calling out the injustices of the previous event.

The consultation is still unfair with the most controversial proposals not up for discussion.

Protest information

Outside Ty William Morgan, 6 Central Square, Cardiff, CF10 1EP

12:45 – 16:00 *

Monday the 23rd of June

* Please do not feel you have to stay for the full time.

It’s important that those wanting to attend the consultation are not prevented from doing so.

 

Protest outside Cardiff consultation Breaking - important update The DWP have rescheduled their consultation on the disability cuts. The venue is now much more accessible and has better transport links. This was the result of disabled voices calling out the injustices of the previous event. The consultation is still unfair with the most controversial proposals not up for discussion. Protest information Outside Ty William Morgan, 6 Central Square, Cardiff, CF10 1EP 12:45 - 16:00 Monday the 23rd of June Please do not feel you have to stay for the full time. It’s important that those wanting to attend the consultation are not prevented from doing so.

Protest! Disabled People Against Cuts Wales

The government want to take money and help away from disabled people.

Disabled people are worried and angry.

The government have a meeting with us in Wales.

Not many people are allowed to go to the meeting.

It is an unfair meeting.

We want people to protest outside the meeting.

A protest will give us hope.

The protest is on Monday 23rd June 2025 in Cardiff.

The protest starts at 12:45 and ends at 4pm. You don’t have to stay the whole time. You can join at any time.

The protest is outside Ty William Morgan, 6 Central Square, Cardiff, CF10 1EP.

 

Protest! Disabled People Against Cuts Wales The government want to take money and help away from disabled people. Disabled people are worried and angry. The government have a meeting with us in Wales. Not many people are allowed to go to the meeting. It is an unfair meeting. We want people to protest outside the meeting. A protest will give us hope. The protest is on Monday 23rd June 2025 in Cardiff. The protest starts at 12:45 and ends at 4pm. You don’t have to stay the whole time. You can join at any time. The protest is outside Ty William Morgan, 6 Central Square, Cardiff, CF10 1EP.

 

Cymraeg (Welsh) version

Protest tu allan ymgynghoriad toriadau anabledd Caerdydd

Newydd – diweddariad pwysig

Mae’r DWP wedi aildrefnu eu hymgynghoriad ar y toriadau anabledd. Mae’r lleoliad newydd yn llawer haws i’w gyrraedd ac efo cysylltiadau trafnidiaeth gwell.

Mae hyn oherwydd bod pobl anabl wedi galw allan anhegwch y digwyddiad.

Mae’r ymgynghoriad dal yn anheg gan fod yr awgrymiadau mwyaf dadleuol dal ddim yn cael eu trafod

Gwybodaeth protest
Tu allan Tŷ William Morgan, 6 Sgwâr Canolog, Caerdydd, CF10 1EP

12:45 – 16:00

Dydd Llun Mehefin 23

Plȋs peidiwch a teimlo eich bod yn gorfod aros am yr amser i gyd.
Mae’n bwysig bod y rhai sydd eisiau mynychu’r ymgynghoriad ddim yn cael eu stopio rhag gwneud hynny.

 

Protest!

Pobl Anabl Yn Erbyn Toriadau

Mae’r llywodraeth eisiau cymryd arian a help o bobl anabl.

Mae pobl anabl yn poeni ac yn flin.

Mae’r llywodraeth yn cael cyfarfod efo ni yng Nghymru.

Does dim llawer o bobl yn cael mynd i’r cyfarfod.

Mae’r cyfarfod yn anheg.

‘Da ni eisiau pobl i brotestio tu allan i’r cyfarfod

Bydd protest yn rhoi gobaith i ni.

Mae’r brotest ar ddydd Llun 23 Mehefin 2025 yng Nghaerdydd.

Mae’r brotest yn dechrau am 12:45 ac yn gorffen am 4yp. ‘Da chi ddim yn gorfod aros am yr holl amser. Gallwch ymuno ar unrhyw adeg.

Bydd y brotest tu allan Tŷ William Morgan, 6 Sgwâr Canolog, Caerdydd, CF10 1EP

 

Social media:

UK:
 
X/Twitter: Disabled People Against Cuts
Facebook: DPAC (Disabled People Against Cuts)
Instagram: disabledpeopleagainstcuts
Wales:
Facebook: Disabled People Against Cuts – Cymru
Instagram: dpac_cymru
Bluesky: @dpac-cymru.bsky.social

Wales shunned with cancelled consultation on disability cuts #TakingThePIP

 Action, Disability Activism, DWP, local groups, News, PIP, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms  No Responses »
May 302025
 
DPAC Logo with text underneath "Disabled People Against Cuts" and then web address dpac.uk.net

Welsh disability cuts consultation cancelled

The only face-to-face consultation for the whole of Wales has now been cancelled, after blatant and unlawful disability discrimination by the DWP in arranging such an inaccessible venue at the last minute.

The Cardiff disability cuts consultation on the 3rd was always going to be unfair, with half the proposals, the most important half, completely off the table for discussion.

 

Disabled people in Wales denied a voice

According to DWP email communications, there will now not be any in-person consultation on the disability cuts in Wales.

We demand that any house of commons vote on the proposals must not go ahead until we have had a full and genuine public consultation in Wales.

The DWP are now only offering an online-only event at the end of June. This is not acceptable. It is possible that MPs will already have voted by then.

Join us for a protest in Cardiff on the 3rd June

DPAC are sticking with our existing plans to protest.

Meet us outside the front of Cardiff Central train station at noon on the 3rd.

The DWP have shown themselves to be incapable of organising a fair consultation. Disabled People Against Cuts will hold our own.

Fortunately, we no longer have to worry about transport to an inaccessible location, and we will hold our protest at our original meeting point.

We invite everyone to join us and have their say. We demand that the DWP turn up and listen.

Updated plans for the day are available on our LinkTree: LinkTr.ee/SwanseaDPAC

Labour Minister dodges debate

A poster on a lamppost in Swansea. It says "Missing: have you seen our MP?" and has a picture of Torsten Bell MP.
Missing: have you seen our MP?

The Swansea West MP, Torsten Bell, a DWP minister, who defends the cuts, has insulted us and has refused to debate with us. His excuse was that a public consultation is taking place. Now that there is no public consultation taking place for the whole of Wales, Torsten must stop dodging and finally accept our invitation to debate his policies with Swansea Disabled People Against Cuts. We have written to him once again to ask for a fair and respectful public debate.

Dear Torsten Bell MP,

As you are aware, Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) members in Swansea have repeatedly invited you to publicly debate with us on the issue of disability benefit cuts, which you have defended on Newsnight.

The only face-to-face consultation for the whole of Wales has now been cancelled, after blatant and unlawful disability discrimination by the DWP in arranging such an inaccessible venue at the last minute.

At 6pm on Friday 25 April, responding to our request for a debate, and after press attention over your lack of reply, you told us that you “have to politely decline given the Department is carrying out a public consultation with public events on this issue.”

Given your stated reason for declining, and given (according to the DWP) that there will now be no Wales in-person consultation, Swansea DPAC expect you to now “politely accept” our invitation, as supported in an open letter signed by more than 250 individuals and organisations, including a national Labour-affiliated trade union. (bit.ly/swansea-dpac-debate-invite)

We would ensure that the debate is carried out fairly, respectfully, and in an orderly fashion. Please let us know when you are available and we will book a venue.

We also seek a public retraction and apology for your repeated public accusations of dishonesty against Swansea Disabled People Against Cuts. We robustly defend claims we have made about your language and refusal to engage with us as asked. Given your accusations, we are putting this letter on the record, copying to journalists, and we will publish any reply, so that the public can judge.

Kind regards,

Swansea Disabled People Against Cuts

 

Stop Labour’s disability cuts

The proposals are fatally flawed, and the “pathways to work” green paper must be retracted.

The government must start again on welfare reform, listening to disabled people and carers in a genuine process of co-production. It cannot be an excuse for short-term budget cuts.

A photo of people protesting in Swansea city centre. They are holding a homemade banner that says "Disabled People Against Cuts" with the DPAC logo, which is a pink, purple, blue, green circle being held by four hands of varying skin tones. In the center is a triangle bearing the letters D P A C. Above the banner is a homemade placard that says "Betrayed and ignored by the Labour party". Beneath the banner is a placard in trans pride colours with a Welsh dragon and a DPAC logo. It says "Stand together". A young man and a young woman are holding the banner. To their left is a woman in a wheelchair holding a socialist party placard that says "stop benefit cuts". In the background is a man handing out DPAC leaflets.

Above: Swansea Disabled People Against Cuts protesting

Notes:

Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) Cymru is a group of disabled people from across Wales. It is made up of Swansea DPAC, Cardiff and Valleys DPAC, and individual members in West, North, and Mid Wales. We are affiliated to Disabled People Against Cuts nationally.

Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru are releasing a full press statement on Monday morning. Press queries can be sent to swanseadpac@gmail.com

We also invite anyone interested in coming to our fortnightly meetings, or receiving our meeting minutes and email updates, to please get in touch.

Disability protests in Swansea and Cardiff this weekend

 Action, local groups, welfare cuts  No Responses »
May 212025
 
DPAC Logo with text underneath "Disabled People Against Cuts" and then web address dpac.uk.net

There are disability protests happening in Wales this weekend in Swansea and Cardiff.

Promotional graphics for social media are given at the end.

Swansea protest to stop disability cuts

Swansea protest - stop disability

12:30pm Saturday 24th May 2025

Oxford Street (Swansea)

Look for the Disabled People Against Cuts logo (a red, pink, blue, green wheel with a black triangle in the middle)

We welcome all support

Web: LinkTr.ee/SwanseaDPAC

Here is our leaflet for the day: swansea-dpac-leaflet (PDF)

 

Cardiff – Sit. Stand. Speak. Fight the benefit cuts. #WelfareNotWarfare

A poster with a person with a walking stick raising their fist and sunbeams radiating from their first. It says: Sit. Stand. Speak. Fight the Benefit Cuts. Join our protest at: Aneurin Bevan Statue, Near Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, CF10 2BU. Time: 1pm. Date: May 24th. It says to bring your signs, your voice, and your power. We stand where Bevan stood - for justice, for people, for dignity. Cut the cruelty, not our support. #WelfareNotWarfare. Partnered with: Don't Call Me Special and Cardiff People's Assembly. The Don't Call Me Special logo is a stylised wheelchair in multiple colours. The People's Assembly logo is a black circle with green and red speech bubbles.

1pm Saturday 24th May 2025

Aneurin Bevan Statue, Queen Street, Cardiff

Partnered with Don’t Call Me Special and Cardiff People’s Assembly

Members of the newly formed Cardiff & Valleys Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) will be showing support on the day and letting people know about the 3rd June lobby of the Cardiff disability cuts consultation.

Here is our leaflet for the day: black and white – dpac-leaflet June3demo cardiffvalleys (PDF)

 

Also, Disability Wales are taking part in a mass lobby at Westminster today

On Wednesday 21 May, Disability Wales and its members will travel to Westminster to take part in a mass lobby against the UK Government’s proposals to slash disability benefits — cuts that threaten the financial security and basic human rights of disabled people across the country.

Disabled people seek to make it clear that we will not be silent whilst our rights and livelihoods are dismantled.

Swansea Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) send our full support to the Disability Wales delegation.

 

Protest graphics for social media

A poster with pastel background colours, a microphone, a picture of a street, and a picture of protestors, one of which is in a wheelchair. The text reads: Swansea protest to stop disability cuts 12:30pm Saturday 24th May 2025 Oxford Street (Swansea) Look for the Disabled People Against Cuts logo (a red, pink, blue, green wheel with a black traingle in the middle) We welcome all support Web: LinkTr.ee/SwanseaDPAC

 

A poster with a person with a walking stick raising their fist and sunbeams radiating from their first. It says: Sit. Stand. Speak. Fight the Benefit Cuts. Join our protest at: Aneurin Bevan Statue, Near Cardiff Castle - Cardiff, CF10 2BU. Time: 1pm. Date: May 24th. It says to bring your signs, your voice, and your power. We stand where Bevan stood - for justice, for people, for dignity. Cut the cruelty, not our support. #WelfareNotWarfare. Partnered with: Don't Call Me Special and Cardiff People's Assembly. The Don't Call Me Special logo is a stylised wheelchair in multiple colours. The People's Assembly logo is a black circle with green and red speech bubbles.

A poster with red and green text and banners. It says: no disability benefit cuts. Welfare not warfare. Saturday 24 March. Aneurin Bevan Statue, Queen Street, Cardiff, CF10 ZBU. The placards read: Sit. Stand. Speak. Fight the benefit cuts.

A graphic showing multiple designs for protests. You can make out the words "No disability benefit cuts".

 

Disability group hits back after Swansea MP “falsehoods” claim

 News  No Responses »
May 162025
 
DPAC Logo with text underneath "Disabled People Against Cuts" and then web address dpac.uk.net

Disabled people in Swansea insulted by Torsten Bell MP

Swansea Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) members have reacted strongly to public statements made on BlueSky by Swansea West MP Torsten Bell. The Labour MP has claimed that the group is “spreading falsehoods” and has made an allegation that they are “entirely falsely” attributing language to him.

A spokesperson for the group said, “being called liars is just the latest in a growing line of insults from this MP. He is welcome to argue that his remarks are taken out of context. We would invite the public to judge. However, following questions on the matter from the press, the MP has instead chosen to delete a post and the ‘edit history’. He is the one who has deleted the context, not us.”

The group has also highlighted offensive remarks made by other Labour MPs, such as Rachel Reeves MP, who defended plans to cut disability benefits by comparing it to “children’s pocket money”.

Politicians refuse to listen to disabled people

In an open letter signed by more than 250 people and organisations, including a national Labour-affiliated trade union, Swansea DPAC has made an appeal for a fair and respectful public debate with MPs over the issues. The group says it is now at a stalemate following the MP’s refusal to take part, but says it intends to host the debate regardless.

A Swansea DPAC spokesperson added, “we do not want a personal exchange of insults. We want to defeat the disability cuts (that Torsten defends) politically. We want an end to the offensive and upsetting language being used by many Labour MPs. We want a structured public debate, not a public spat carried out over social media. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, that’s all we’re getting from Torsten.”

“Disabled people are certainly not getting anything close to a fair debate from an inaccessible so-called ‘public consultation’ that refuses to consult on half the issues, and repeatedly fails to respond to disabled people with access requirements. We are fighting to be heard.”

Stop the disability cuts

The group is calling for the proposed cuts to be scrapped, and for the government to start again, genuinely listening to disabled people and carers from day one in a process of co-production.

 

At a protest, wrapped in a rainbow pride flag, stands a young man with blue hearing aids. he is holding a placard in blue, pink and white trans pride colours. The placard says "Stand together" and has a picture of the Welsh dragon on it. Below the dragon is the Disabled People Against Cuts logo. The logo is a circle being held by four hands of different skin tones. The logo has an upside-down black triangle in the centre bearing the letters D P A C

Protest outside Cardiff disability cuts consultation 3rd June (updated)

 Action, News  No Responses »
Apr 182025
 
DPAC Logo with text underneath "Disabled People Against Cuts" and then web address dpac.uk.net
A digital graphic by Disabled People Against Cuts promoting a protest. The bold text reads ‘Protest Outside Disability Cuts Consultation - Cardiff’ followed by smaller text that reads ‘Labour's public consultation on disability benefit cuts is unfair and misleading. The most controversial proposals are not even up for discussion - tell the UK government this is unacceptable. Meet outside the front of Cardiff Central train station, bring friends and placards, 12:00pm noon to 4pm, June 3rd 2025’. There is a graphic of a megaphone in the bottom right, and the DPAC logo in the bottom left. A Link to the DPAC Swansea Linktree is at the bottom of the page with following URL: https://linktr.ee/swanseaDPAC

DPAC Swansea are calling for a protest outside the disability cuts consultation in Cardiff.

Meet outside the front of Cardiff Central train station (The government has not yet announced the exact location).

Assemble 12:00pm on Tuesday 3rd June 2025.

Labour’s public consultation on disability benefit cuts is unfair and misleading. We have almost zero faith in a consultation process that starts, on day one, by outlining all the areas it will not be consulting on. The most controversial proposals are not even up for discussion. There is one, and only one, in-person consultation event for the whole of Wales. Our MPs are ignoring our letters.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/662898879779901/ Please bring friends and placards.

Important: Some people will still want to engage with the consultation protest and we want to respect that. We are considering how best to manage our intervention.

Can you help organise the protest in Cardiff?

We want your help – get in touch with Swansea Disabled People Against Cuts: https://linktr.ee/swanseaDPAC

 

Protests and events Glasgow and Swansea (updated!)

 Action, News  No Responses »
Apr 152025
 
DPAC Logo with text underneath "Disabled People Against Cuts" and then web address dpac.uk.net

Upcoming Glasgow Action – Anas Sarwar MSP, Friday,   April 18th

Friday, 18th April at Anas Sarwar’s Office at Brunswick House, 51 Wilson Street, Glasgow, G1 1UZ.  We will be gathering at 12 noon.

Sarwar has made it explicitly clear that he is in support of the proposed Labour cuts to welfare and disability benefits – offering no viable alternative to disabled people in Scotland if Westminster’s cuts are successful.  Successive Scottish and UK Governments have failed us.

We will be highlighting the real impact that his party’s cuts will have on people in Scotland, and the rest of the UK, of which he seems painfully unaware.

Please share widely, if you would like to speak or propose someone to speak, please let me know.

DPAC West of Scotland  dpacwestofscotland@gmail.com

 

Swansea event, date to be confirmed

Labour MPs: no more insults – disabled people demand a debate!

Tired of being ignored, Swansea DPAC will soon be hosting a public debate, with or without our MPs.

We have zero faith in a so-called consultation process that starts out, on day one, outlining all the areas that it won’t be consulting on. There is one, and only one, public consultation process for the whole of Wales. Our MPs are not responding to our repeated attempts to contact them as constituents or as disabled people’s organisations.

We are particularly keen to publicly debate the Swansea West MP Torsten Bell, who has defended the cuts on Newsnight as a DWP minister, and who has been quite rude. From his keyboard, he has called disabled people “keyboard warriors” and a “burden”. We demand a “right of reply” – in person!

We thank our trade union friends for all of their support so far. At our last meeting, we were honoured to accept an invitation from Swansea Trades Council to speak at their May Day rally (see https://www.facebook.com/SwanseaTradesCouncil).

Disabled people know that we are not the only ones targeted by the government, as Reeves and Starmer take the hatchet to jobs, pay, and services everywhere.

Swansea Disabled People Against Cuts   swanseadpac@gmail.com

 

Swansea May Day rally – Swansea DPAC to speak

DPAC Swansea raises high the trade union motto “an injury to one is an injury to all”

DPAC Swansea thanks our friends at Swansea Trades Council for the invitation. We know that we are not the only ones targeted by the government, as Reeves and Starmer take the hatchet to jobs, pay, and services everywhere.

We hope everyone will join us on 3rd May in Swansea.

Trades Union Councils: Swansea

  • Fight for a public sector Pay Rise!
  • Welfare not warfare!
  • Jobs, homes and services, not racism!

Join Swansea Trades Council for our annual May Day rally

Saturday 3rd May, 12 Noon Castle Square – Swansea

Hear speakers from across the movement

  • Trade Unionists
    Anti-Racism Organisers
    Disability Rights Activists
    Community Campaigners

Bring members, family, friends, and your banners and placards.

BFAWU – CWU – Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) – Swansea – GMB – Unite – PCS – Unison – NASUWT

https://www.facebook.com/SwanseaTradesCouncil

Trades Union Councils: Swansea The logo has different colour hands around it in a circle. Fight for a public sector Pay Rise! Welfare not warfare! Jobs, homes and services, not racism! Join Swansea Trades Council for our annual May Day rally Saturday 3rd May, 12 Noon Castle Square - Swansae Hear speakers from across the movement: Trade Unionists Anti-Racism Organisers Disability Rights Activists Community Campaigners Bring members, family, friends, and your banners and placards. Logo for the Bakers Food and Allied workers Union (BFAWU), which has a stylised icon of grain. Logo for CWU The Communications Union, which is a circle and two waves. Logo for Disabled People Against Cuts Swansea - Abertawe, which is a circle being held by four hands, with a black triangle in the middle bearing the letters DPAC. Logo for GMB Union, which is a square. Logo for Unite the union, which looks like it has a flame or a flag rising from it. Logo for PCS, the Public and Commercial Services Union, which has the letters PCS appear large, bold, and in lowercase. Logo for Unison, the public service union, which looks like it has a ribbon running through it. Logo for NASUWT, the teachers' union.

 

Tuesday 28th August: Swansea Atos Protest

 Action, Atos  No Responses »
Aug 282012
 
DPAC Logo with text underneath "Disabled People Against Cuts" and then web address dpac.uk.net

Report from Swansea

Disabled people, family members and anti-cuts campaigners took a
protest to the Atos assessment centre in Swansea today against the
flawed and hated “work capability assessment” and disability cuts.

On a main road with banners reading “Cuts are Disabling: Fight Every
Cut”, “ATOS: Not fit for purpose”, “Scrap these flawed tests”, “Stop
privatisation of the DWP” we got lots of support from passers by,
including a speaker from the Swansea Bay Racial Equality Council who
spoke in support at the rally.

  swansea Atos Protest