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

Click here for the Easy Read version

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

Wales Deaf artist exhibition – Our Visual World: DeafNot

All Posts, News No Responses »

Feb 232026

Friday 21 November 2025 – Sunday 1 March 2026

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea

Our Visual World: DeafNot brings together seven Deaf artists from across Wales

What do disabled people want from a Welsh Government?

All Posts, Benefits, Disability Rights, Events, local groups, News, Politics No Responses »

Feb 132026

Ahead of the Senedd elections, you are invited to this hybrid joint conference and discussion organised by Unite Community Wales and Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (DPAC Cymru).

Saturday 21st February 2026, 11am to 3pm

Hybrid at the Unite the Union Office, 1 Cathedral Road, Cardiff, CF11 9SD, or online via Teams.

Please register in advance here

Note: if attending via Teams, please put this under Access Requirements.

This is a free event; you don’t have to pay anything to attend.

You don’t have to be a member of DPAC or of Unite to attend.

Unite Community is a section of the trade union Unite for anyone not in paid employment.

DPAC Cymru is the Welsh section of Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC)

Share our Story #SOS – Disabled people’s experiences from Wales to Africa

All Posts, Events, international, local groups, News, Speeches No Responses »

Dec 052025

When? 10th December 2025, 11am – 1pm GMT

Where? Online via Zoom – register here

Share Our Story (#SOS) is an initiative that is emerging from the Wales Africa Movement and seeks to bring people with disabilities together and discuss their lived experiences. Since its beginning in March 2022, #SOS has shared over 200 stories and discussions with contributors from 11 African countries plus Wales.

With the assistance of Hub Cymru Africa (HCA), this online event will feature a number of presentations, plus an open panel discussion highlighting the achievements, ambitions, and lived experiences of disabled communities in Wales and Africa.

Panelists

David Achuroa is the chair of the panel. He comes from Ghana but now lives in Canada.

Luvuyo Zondani is from South Africa. He will talk about how disabled people had to challenge the local authorities in the courts to get their Dial a Ride service reinstated.

Rael Muli is a member of the local deaf community in Meru, Kenya. They hosted a local Deaf Awareness campaign.

Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (Wales), represented by Ben Golightly and Lee Ellery. They are a group of disabled people who have come together to fight against the cuts to services and expenditure supporting disabled people in Wales and the UK. The topic they have chosen is “Nothing about us, without us!” How disabled people in Wales are demanding to be heard.

All welcome

You are invited to join us, whether you regard yourself as disabled or not. Come and learn something of what the disabled community has been doing in Wales and Africa. To register your ticket, and identify any access needs you have, please register here.

For questions or further information regarding the event or about Share Our Story (#SOS), send an email to shareourstoryinfo@gmail.com

Click here for the full agenda

Protest the budget in Swansea

Action, All Posts, Disability Activism, local groups, Motability, News, PIP, Politics, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms No Responses »

Nov 182025

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.

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)

Inclusive disability photoshoot – Cardiff Nov 20th

All Posts, Access to Work, Events, professional oppression No Responses »

Nov 182025

This is a launch pilot of “Work without barriers” run by Reeves Disability Consultancy.

It is a free photoshoot to highlight the barriers disabled people face when accessing work.

Reeves is also developing a library to loan equipment for people struggling with the Access to Work failures and delays and lack of equipment.

20 Nov 2025, 1.30pm

Full accessible, free, pan-disability.

Professional portraits and disability pride shots.

Tramshed Tech, Unit D Pendyris Street, Cardiff, CF11 6BH.

Email joshua@reevesdisability.com

Link : https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rdcs-inclusive-disability-photoshoot-cardiff-tickets-1838694407469

Don’t close Cefndy – stand with disabled workers in Rhyl

Action, All Posts, council cuts, News No Responses »

Nov 072025

UNISON Cymru write…

Cefndy has given disabled people meaningful work for 50 years. Don’t let the council take that away.

Denbighshire Council plans to close Cefndy Healthcare, a local social enterprise that has provided meaningful employment for disabled people for nearly 50 years.

Twenty-two disabled workers in Rhyl make mobility aids used by health and care services across Wales. If Cefndy closes, they will lose not just their jobs but the community and support network they have built together.

Cefndy can have a future. Workers have put forward costed alternatives that would keep it open, modernise production and protect these vital jobs. With support from the community and councillors, Cefndy can continue to prove that inclusive employment works.

Email Denbighshire councillors today. Tell them to stop the closure and back a fair, locally-led plan for Cefndy’s future.

Email the councillors →

Together we can protect jobs, dignity and opportunity for disabled people in Wales.

In solidarity,

UNISON Cymru

More info | UNISON press release

DPAC Cymru have pledged to offer all we can to support this important UNISON Cymru campaign.

Disability campaigners take independent PIP review call to Welsh Parliament

Action, All Posts, Benefits, Disability Activism, Disability Rights, DWP, local groups, News, PIP, Politics, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms No Responses »

Oct 222025

The words "We want an Independent PIP Review" in bold and black text, with Independent highlighted in red. On the left there is a tear-out effect of a greyscale photo of a disability protest, and a red-tinted photo of Stephen Timms, the disability minister.

On Tuesday 14th October, members and supporters of Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (DPAC Cymru) met outside the Senedd (the Welsh Parliament) to protest the disability cuts and hand over a letter to Senedd members. The letter, co-signed by over 700 individuals and organisations, outlined DPAC’s request to the Welsh Government to support an independent review of Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The letter calls for a PIP review that is truly led independently by disabled people and our organisations, to allow our lived experience to influence the policies and decisions that will ultimately affect us.

We are grateful to the members of the Senedd who met with us or wrote to us about this matter, and we hope that all members will take into consideration what the letter said.

The lobby happened on the same day that the Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms, declined an invitation to meet with the Senedd Cross Party Group on Disability due to “diary pressures”. Timms is currently responsible for the PIP review, and we feel that his response highlights how disabled people and Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) are being excluded from the review and decision-making process.

Timms’ promise that the PIP review would be a genuine co-production with disabled people is not being upheld, and the Senedd lobby was part of an ongoing campaign to ensure that disabled people’s voices are being heard.

As a new member of DPAC Cymru, it was wonderful to see so many people at the Senedd to support what DPAC is working to achieve. Given the current situation, it is vital that disabled people’s voices are amplified in a way that is accessible, impactful, and authentic. We will continue to campaign for the rights of disabled people and to push for a fairer, independent PIP review to create a system that truly supports the needs of disabled people across the UK.

Briallen Symons-East
Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (DPAC Cymru)

Photo: Disability campaigners from Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru outside the Senedd in Cardiff.

Photo: Lee Ellery hands a pack of documents to Sioned Williams MS.

Photo: Lee Ellery hands a pack of documents to Sioned Williams MS – from another angle!

Photo: DPAC Cymru talk with Jenny Rathbone MS outside the Senedd.

Photo: Disability campaigners Lee Ellery and Joshua Reeves BEM conversing.

Photo: disability campaigners converse with Sioned Williams MS.

Photo: DPAC Cymru spoke with Darren Millar MS and his staff outside the Senedd.

Photo: We posed for photos with Sioned Williams MS holding bilingual (English and Welsh) signs that said:
“No disability cuts! Disabled people want to run our own independent PIP review!”

Wales disability protest – lobby the Senedd, 14th October

All Posts, Action, Benefits, Disability Activism, Disability Rights, local groups, News, PIP, Politics, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms, Write to your MP No Responses »

Oct 082025

4pm to 4.15pm

Tuesday 14th October

Outside the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) in Cardiff

The Disability Minister Stephen Timms was forced to promise UK parliament that there would be no more PIP disability cuts until a review had been co-produced with disabled people.

He has broken this promise.

Disabled people want to run our own, independent, and democratic PIP review.

Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (DPAC Cymru) will be handing in our open letter with 700 signatures from individuals and organisations. We are calling on the Welsh government to do its part and practically support Disabled People’s Organisations to carry out the review.

Placards, in English and Welsh, with the Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru logo, will say:

“No disability cuts! Disabled people want to run our own independent PIP review. We’re asking the Welsh Government to do its part!”

If you are able to, would you consider…

Joining us at the lobby in person on Tuesday 14th.

This will involve: being outside for 15 minutes with placards and possibly a megaphone.

Ask your Senedd member to meet us there.

Let people know – our Google Drive has bilingual social media graphics and placard text, as well as alt text for social media graphics accessibility.

We welcome all support!

Access requirements

Is there anything that would help you take part? Is there anything we can do better? Do you have any access requirements? Let us know! Email <dpac.cymru@gmail.com>

A limited number of PPE masks will be available for free.

Social media graphics

(alt text here)

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

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

We want an independent PIP review!

Action, Access to Work, All Posts, Benefits, Disability Activism, Disability Rights, DWP, Letters, local groups, News, PIP, Politics, welfare cuts, Welfare reforms 4 Responses »

Sep 012025

This is an open letter from DPAC Cymru, produced with feedback from six Disabled People’s Organisations.

Disclaimer: DPAC Cymru didn’t have time to reach 100% agreed wording with DPAC UK, as we would have liked to. Even within DPAC Cymru, the letter wording is somewhat of a compromise. However, for important tactical reasons in Wales, we felt it was important to publish without delay. DPAC have therefore agreed to share the letter with this disclaimer.

Click here for the Easy Read version.

To:

The Welsh Government,

The Scottish Government,

The Northern Ireland Executive,

The UK Government,

1st September 2025

After a major, if partial, defeat in parliament over disability cuts, the disability minister Stephen Timms promised MPs that the PIP benefit review would be co-produced by disabled people and their organisations.

There is widespread skepticism if this will genuinely be the case. Promises to “engage widely over the summer” have not been met, and there has been no transparency over Timms’ plans for “ten people” to have “a lot of sway”. His comments reveal that he does not understand what co-production means. Timms has also repeatedly declined to acknowledge the many serious failures of the Pathways to Work green paper consultation process, particularly felt in Wales.

We counterpose this to the Disability Rights Taskforce, initiated in partnership with the Welsh Government, which brought together 350 stakeholders and 200 policy experts, as a model of what co-production can look like. However, many Taskforce participants were frustrated that much of their work was ultimately missing from the Welsh Government draft plan. This is a lesson that even co-produced policy will fall flat without accountability. Disabled people’s organisations must be given the necessary resources and powers to carry out the implementation and monitoring of decisions.

[Some of us] cautiously welcome[d] the announcement of the Government’s new Independent Disability Advisory Panel. This panel is separate to, but will feed into, the Timms review of PIP. However, trust remains very low, and the terms – of “up to 10” people – have already been set for us. [See update, below]

We the undersigned demand that:

• The new Independent Disability Advisory Panel must be genuinely independent, representative, transparent, and have real powers of oversight.

• The UK government must acknowledge its failures in delivering the Pathways to Work consultation and legislative process, as a precondition to rebuilding trust and ensuring those mistakes are not repeated.

• The PIP review must be independently led by disabled people and our organisations, inviting the views of carers, volunteers, and workers in health, social care, housing, transport, and welfare.

• Any review of welfare reform must also, in a process led by disabled people, involve trade unions as democratic organisations representing 1.4 million disabled workers as well as representing the workers responsible for the day-to-day delivery of services that disabled people rely on.

• The scope of the PIP review must be widened to all aspects of welfare and employment for disabled people, guided by the principle: from each according to their ability, to each according to their need.

• Dedicated funding must be provided to Disabled Peoples Organisations to support outreach, accessible engagement, and the collection of views from disabled people, including those without internet access or digital skills.

• The devolved governments of Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and councils, should recognise and support this independent review even if the UK government refuses to.

• The UK government must immediately halt all cuts to disability and incapacity benefits for the duration of the review, and urgently fix Access to Work.

• Parliament must be given time to properly scrutinise any new legislation.

• The UC bill should be repealed. It is flawed, and was rushed through in an abnormal and undemocratic way.

[Update 4th September] Statement from DPAC Cymru regarding the “Independent Disability Advisory Panel”:

“The recently published terms for the so-called Independent Disability Advisory Panel, including the requirement to sign a non-disclosure agreement, are completely unacceptable. We are going to go back to a full consultation with all of our members and allies and take time for discussion to correct the weakness in our compromise wording of ‘cautiously welcome’ and come back united, realigned on the strongest possible response. We hope you will continue to support the demand for an independent PIP review, led by disabled people, and support this letter with your signature.”

For a full list of signatures and footnotes, see here.

To add your support to the letter, add your signature here

Here are short URLs for sharing the letter:

Non-Easy Read: Bit.Ly/independent-pip-review

Easy Read: Bit.Ly/easy-read-independent-pip-review

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

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

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

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

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

Find some in our Google Drive

Make your own!

Send yours in!

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

Write to ALL of your elected representatives.

Follow each link for instructions and template letters.

Write to your councillor(s)
Write to your MP
Write to your MSs
Contact your trade union or student union
As a trade unionist, sign and share the Trade Unionists Against the Benefit Cuts open letter.

Write to the press

Write to local Welsh newspapers

Get involved!

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

Keep up to date with our LinkTree
- - We will put news and upcoming protests there.

Share this resource!
- Bit.Ly/DPAC-Cymru-Defeat-The-Bill

Join DPAC online
- You can also get in touch directly with DPAC Cymru.
- To do so, email swanseadpac@gmail.com and/or dpaccardiffandvalleys@gmail.com (for North Wales and other areas, contact both)

Join a trade union

- If you are not in paid employment, you can join Unite Community for 60p/week.

- If you’re a student, join Universities Against Disability Cuts UK (UADC UK)

Research joining a political party that aligns with your views.

- Remember, disabled people should not vote Reform UK.

- Maybe you believe it’s time for trade unions to take the lead in forming a new working class party.

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

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)

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

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! 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

https://x.com/Dis_PPL_Protest

Facebook: DPAC (Disabled People Against Cuts)

https://www.facebook.com/disabledpeopleagainstcuts

Instagram: disabledpeopleagainstcuts

https://www.instagram.com/disabledpeopleagainstcuts/

Wales:

Facebook: Disabled People Against Cuts – Cymru

https://www.facebook.com/people/Disabled-People-Against-Cuts-Cymru/61576906380354/

Instagram: dpac_cymru

https://www.instagram.com/dpac_cymru/

Bluesky: @dpac-cymru.bsky.social

https://bsky.app/profile/dpac-cymru.bsky.social

LinkTree:
https://linktr.ee/swanseaDPAC

No vote on disability cuts without Wales #NoVoteWithoutWales

Action, Disability Activism, Letters, local groups, News, PIP, Politics, welfare cuts, Write to your MP No Responses »

Jun 032025

The DWP have cancelled the only in-person consultation event on the disability cuts for the whole of Wales, and do not plan to run another.

They did this after announcing an inaccessible venue at the last minute, in what we believe to be a clear example of disability discrimination.

The consultation was always going to be unfair, given half the proposals – the most important half – were off the table for discussion on day one.

We are demanding that there must be no vote in the House of Commons on disability cuts until a full and genuine public consultation has been carried out in Wales.

Please sign our open letter, and ask your MP or Member of the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) to sign too. You can sign, and ask your MP to sign, even if you don’t live in Wales.

Below is a template letter for contacting your MP or MS.

Find your MP or MS using WriteToThem, Find your MP, and/or Find a Member of the Senedd (in Wales)

Template letter

[Please use this template as a starting point and use your own words as much as possible.]

Dear [MP or member of the Senedd]

I am writing as your constituent to ask that you support an open letter demanding that there must be no disability benefit cuts vote in the House of Commons until Wales has had a full and genuine consultation – #NoVoteWithoutWales

The DWP have now cancelled the only in-person consultation event on the disability cuts for the whole of Wales, and have communicated that they do not plan to run another. Instead they are suggesting an online-only event at the end of the month, probably after any vote has already happened. This isn’t good enough.

The DWP cancelled the consultation after announcing an inaccessible venue at the last minute, in what could only be described as a clear example of disability discrimination.

Given the DWP’s failures, any consultation must now be run independently by Welsh disabled people’s organisations.

Please read and sign here:

https://Bit.Ly/No-Vote-Without-Wales

No vote without Wales! #NoVoteWithoutWales

Kind regards,

[Name]

[Postcode]

[Phone number]

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

People of Wales-BBC Wales wants to talk to you on PIP delays

Action, All Posts, BBC, Disability Rights, PIP No Responses »

Sep 242014

I am a journalist with BBC Radio Wales. I’m currently researching a half-hour programme looking at people’s experience of the process of applying for PIP for broadcast towards the end of October.

I’m particularly keen to hear from people who have found delays in the assessment and decision-making processes who would be prepared to share their experiences through a pre-recorded radio interview over the next month or so.

I hope that you are able to help. Please get back to me if you need any more information.

Regards,

Andy Fry

Series Producer, “Eye on Wales”, BBC Radio Wales

Work/Gwaith: 029 2032 2406 or 029 2032 3763

* Room E1102, Broadcasting House, Llandaff, Cardiff CF5 2YQ

* Ystafell E1102, Y Ganolfan Ddarlledu, Llandaf, Caerdydd CF5 2YQ

8 mailto:andy.fry@bbc.co.uk

Deaths and Suicides linked to WCA: more evidence needed for justice

Action, All Posts, Atos, News, Welfare reforms 12 Responses »

Nov 252012

At DPAC we receive regular emails from people who have lost loved ones and attribute this to the process of the WCA, indeed with recent evidence of 73 deaths and suicides per week we are seeing these emails increasing. December 3^rd is being marked as a day of remembrance for all Atos victims. Disability activist Samuel Miller from Canada is taking this outrage against human rights as far as he possibly can in an effort to secure justice.

Samuel has made many efforts at the United Nations level on behalf of disabled people in the UK and the constant attacks they face under the Tory regime. We all owe him a debt of gratitude. He is looking for evidence of linked Atos deaths. DPAC supports this and want to help in any way we can –below we repost the blog from Vox Political with permission from Mike from Wales.

Please help if you can by publicising and also subscribe to Vox Political at: https://mikesivier.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/ids-off-the-hook-with-icc-so-evidence-needed-of-atos-deaths/

IDS off the hook with ICC – so evidence needed of Atos deaths

Brian McArdle. On the BBC’s Question Time last Thursday, Iain Duncan Smith flew into a rage when Owen Jones challenged him about what happened to Mr McArdle, “57 years old, paralysed down one side, blind in one eye; he couldn’t speak. He died one day after being found ‘fit for work’ by Atos.”

People whose family members have died while going through the DWP/Atos work capability assessment are being urged to contact a disability specialist – who has been seeking international legal action against the austerity-enforced injustice.

Vox Political reported back in September that Samuel Miller had contacted the International Criminal Court in The Hague, intending to file a complaint against Iain Duncan Smith, Chris Grayling and Maria Miller, the ministers at the Department for Work and Pensions, considered most responsible for “draconian welfare reforms and the resultant deaths of their society’s most vulnerable”.

Mr Miller got in touch over the weekend, but said that the result had been disappointing: “They stated that the International Criminal Court has a very limited jurisdiction. The Court may only address the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes as defined by Articles 6 to 8 of the Rome Statute.”

The Rome Statute is the document under which the ICC was established. Article 7, which covers crimes against humanity, states: “For the purpose of this Statute, “crime against humanity” means any of the following acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack:

“(k) Inhumane acts … intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health.”

I thought this – Article 7 (k) – was a perfect description of what the DWP and its ministers are trying to achieve, and Mr Miller agreed. But he said: “Clearly the ICC is striving to discourage the filing of austerity complaints.”

There is a way forward. He added: “On a welcome note, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights recently acknowledged that austerity measures may violate human rights — which certainly is a step in the right direction.”

He’s right. The chair of the UN committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Ariranga Govindasamy Pillay said on October 23 that, although member states face tough decisions when dealing with rising public deficits, austerity measures are potentially violations of their legal obligations to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

“All States Parties should avoid at all times taking decisions which lead to the denial or infringement of economic, social and cultural rights,” Pillay said, citing an open letter to States Parties from the committee earlier this year that clarified the committee’s position on austerity measures.

By ratifying the Covenant, member states like the UK have a legally binding obligation to progressively improve, without retrogression, universal access to goods and services such as healthcare, education, housing and social security and to ensure just and favourable conditions of work, without discrimination, in accordance with established international standards. These rights must be achieved by using the maximum of available resources.

Pillay pointed out that austerity measures are also a disincentive to economic growth and thereby hamper progressive realization of economic and social rights.

The committee had pointed out that social insecurity and political instability, as seen in parts of Europe today, were also potential effects of the denial or infringement of economic, social and cultural rights.

The poor, women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, people with HIV/AIDS, indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities, migrants and refugees were particularly at risk, the committee had noted.

Having identified the possibility, we come to the burden of proof. Mr Miller said: “My best hope lies in procuring coroner’s reports where the cause of death is found to be destitution and/or suicide.”

Inevitably, there is a problem. The UK Coronial system does not involve the collating of such information, nor does it look for national trends. The role of the Coroner is case specific, so wider information is not available. This is because the system of inquests into deaths was never intended to investigate whether those deaths were being caused by insane decisions of the government itself.

The law in relation to death certification may be amended in 2014 to provide for Medical Examiners whose role will be to examine such matters – but that is two years from now, and the DWP/Atos system could pile up another 7,600 bodies in that time (using the generally-accepted average of 73 deaths per week).

Mr Miller has written to the DWP, seeking a change of coroners’ duties to allow proper and robust reporting of trends such as stress-related deaths, suicides and/or destitution deaths of welfare recipients and recipients who perished shortly after being stripped of their benefits can be reported to both the DWP and the Ministry of Justice.

But I think we all know there is little chance of success there. This government is hardly going to hand over the tools by which its own ministers might end up in an international court. They’re insane, but they’re not stupid!

So people are going to have to do it themselves. We know about high-profile cases in which deaths have been blamed on Atos. Information about the others needs to be available now.

This is why I want to appeal for anyone who has lost a loved one because of the DWP/Atos work capability assessment system to get in touch with Mr Miller. He needs to know the verdict that was reached at the inquests into their deaths.

His email address is disabilityinliterature@gmail.com

I would strongly urge that anyone writing to Mr Miller keeps their correspondence to the point. It is to be hoped that he will receive a strong response, but this entails a large amount of work. It is therefore important to make that work as easy as possible, perhaps by putting the deceased’s name, address and the verdict at the top of your email.

Follow mike on twitter :@MidWalesMike