In response to news that the UK government is considering making concessions on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, Jen Clark, Amnesty International UK’s Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Lead, said:

“It’s not too late for the Government to change course, but the clock is ticking.

“The alarm has been sounded: the social security system is broken, and these harmful plans would shatter too much of what’s left of it.

“Nearly a quarter of people in the UK are living in poverty - not because of personal choices, but because of political ones. This is not reform, it’s austerity in disguise, and it’s being pushed through at the expense of disabled people’s rights.

“Excluding disabled people’s voices and avoiding proper consultation is not reform, it’s discrimination. The UK government may have hoped to silence opposition, but disabled people have spoken, and many MPs are now listening.

“Parliament must now make a choice: to roll back rights, or stand up for justice, dignity and equality.”