First Minister pressed for her views on PIP cuts

The First Minister of Wales has been pressed once again to state her opinion on the proposed cuts to personal independence payments (PIPs), as she heard the story of a woman from Llanelli who was worried about losing her house as a result of the policy and another who was worried about cutting back on food.

When the question was asked by Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd for Mid and West Wales during First Minister’s Questions today (Tuesday, 1 April), Eluned Morgan once again refused to express an opinion.

Last Friday (28 March), during a session of the Committee for the Scrutiny of the First Minister, she was also unwilling to express an opinion on the matter. This went against what the Secretary of State for Wales, Jo Stevens, claimed recently, which was that Eluned Morgan welcomed the policy.

Speaking in the Senedd today, Cefin Campbell MP said:

“I was at a People Speak Up event for people over 50 in Llanelli a few weeks ago, and there I had a chat with some local residents, including one woman who was worried about losing her PIP payments. First Minister, she was worried that she would lose her house because of the policy.

“Another mentioned cutting back on food if she lost her PIP payments – this is the seriousness of the situation facing people in our communities.

“You were elected, like me, by the good people of Mid and West Wales to represent them and advocate on their behalf.

“Can I ask therefore whether this is the kind of policy you expected from a Labour-led government in Westminster – a policy that’s going to hit the most vulnerable in our society and push thousands more people into poverty? Is this what you mean by ‘a partnership in power’?”