• More than 90% of standard-rate PIP claimants could be at risk of losing support in some areas
• UK-Gulf trade deal: Govt must not sell out farmers and undermine high standards
• Cole-Hamilton: Scottish Water plan must ensure no more disappointments

More than 90% of standard-rate PIP claimants could be at risk of losing support in some areas

55 constituencies in England could see 90% of those claiming the standard rate of Personal Independence Payment for daily living activities lose at least some of the benefit following the Government’s cuts, a Written Parliamentary Question by the Liberal Democrats has revealed.

Under the Government’s plans, from November 2026 people on PIP will be required to score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to receive support with everyday tasks such as washing and cooking. Those scoring less will lose access to the “daily living” component, which for some will result in a full withdrawal of the benefit.

In England and Wales, every constituency currently sees at least 80% of those receiving the standard rate of PIP at risk of losing support. A staggering 55 constituencies have at least 90% of claimants that fall into this category.

The constituencies with the highest number of those at risk of having support slashed are in Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney and Tipton and Wednesbury, both with 92% of standard-rate of PIP claimants not scoring four points on all categories of the Government’s test. The worst affected region was Wales where 90% of those on standard-rate PIP did not score four points.

The Liberal Democrats said that it “lays bare the scale of the damage” the cuts could do, adding to people’s worry and “increasing pressure on local areas where these cuts go the deepest”. The party called on the Government to recognise the cuts’ “devastating impact” and “change course”.

Liberal Democrat Work and Pensions spokesperson, Steve Darling MP said:

This lays bare the scale of the damage that the Government’s cuts could do to some of society’s most vulnerable.

Vast swathes of people could be missing out on vital support, not only adding to their suffering but increasing pressure on local areas where these cuts go the deepest.

This is support that helps people with daily tasks that many of us would take for granted, such as staying clean or staying safe and also helps many people stay in work.

The Government must recognise the devastating impact that these cuts could have and change course.

UK-Gulf trade deal: Govt must not sell out farmers and undermine high standards

Responding to reports that the UK Government is set to sign a new trade agreement with the Gulf States, Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson and Deputy Leader Daisy Cooper MP said:

Good trade deals with the Gulf states and others around the world have the potential to boost our economy and improve living standards, but Labour mustn’t repeat the mistake of the last Conservative Government by selling out British farmers.

If the Government further undermines our high food and animal welfare standards and Britain’s food security, we will all be worse off.

Not only that, but it seems the Government is selling out our free press for this deal too – permitting foreign stakes in British newspapers, with the UAE set to clinch 15% of the Telegraph.

This shows yet again that Parliament must have a proper chance to scrutinise the Government’s trade deals with each one being put to a debate and vote for Parliament as a whole.

Cole-Hamilton: Scottish Water plan must ensure no more disappointments

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today called for investment and ambition for Scotland’s rivers and waterways and warned that there must be no more disappointments, as Scottish Water published their Long-Term Strategy covering the next 25 years.

The strategy warns of the challenges posed by the climate crisis, population change and ageing assets.

It also notes that 10% of the network is made up of asbestos cement pipes and that the burst rate of these pipes will double by 2045. Asbestos cement pipes have been used since the early 1900s. Scottish Water previously noted that “We are proactively targeting A/C pipe replacement as we know these mains are coming to the end of their useful life (50–70 years)”. There is typically considered to be no safe level of exposure to asbestos.

In recent weeks it has been revealed that:

• There were 24,398 sewage dumps recorded in 2024, which lasted for a staggering 208,377 hours.

• Scottish Water have admitted that dozens of “high-priority” projects to stop the worst sewage releases in Scotland have still not been carried out more than two years on.

• Scottish Water have increased bosses bonuses by more than a third.

• Water bills increased by 9.9% in April.

Alex Cole-Hamilton said:

Many Scots including myself were looking for a plan that turned the tide on Scotland’s sewage scandal.

Sewage was dumped 24,398 times last year, yet even that figure is likely to be a huge underestimate since so few overflow points are fully monitored.

This plan identifies the challenges that Scottish Water will face over the next 25 years such as extreme weather, the need to replace aging infrastructure and the need to improve the quality of our rivers and seas.

All of these are urgent issues in need of attention. Now it’s time to deliver investment and ambition that matches up to the scale of this challenge.

Scottish Liberal Democrats want to deliver a sewage network fit for the 21st century. Scottish Water must ensure there are no more disappointments.