News

Universal Credit and PIP Reform Bill sparks national outcry

Published

1 year ago

June 18, 2025

Charities warn cuts could plunge disabled people into hardship as MPs prepare to vote

A NEW welfare reform bill introduced by the UK Government has triggered fierce criticism from charities, disabled rights groups, and MPs, who warn that the proposed changes could push hundreds of thousands into poverty.

The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Reform Bill, tabled in Parliament this week, is being called the most significant welfare cut since 2015. The bill proposes sweeping changes to how disability benefits are assessed and allocated—reforms the government claims are necessary for sustainability, but which campaigners say amount to a rollback of vital support.

Helen Barnard, Director of Policy at the Trussell Trust, said the bill “does almost nothing to ease the concerns of hundreds of thousands of disabled people who fear that their social security support will be ripped from them. In fact, this bill will push nearly half a million more people into severe hardship and towards the doors of food banks.”

What the Bill Proposes

Among the most contentious elements of the bill are:

Stricter eligibility criteria for PIP, potentially removing or reducing support for up to 800,000 claimants.
A reduction in the Universal Credit health element, from £97 to £50 per week for new claimants, frozen until 2029.
Cuts to Carer’s Allowance which could see around 150,000 carers lose up to £4,200 annually.
Three-month transition protections, and special exemptions for terminally ill or severely disabled people—measures many say are too limited.

Charities argue that these changes will disproportionately affect people with mental health conditions, fluctuating conditions, and those who rely on informal care.

Evidence of rising need

The Trussell Trust, which operates a network of food banks across the UK, reports that three in four people referred to their services are disabled or live with someone who is. The charity has directly linked failed benefit assessments to increased food bank use. Their data shows that for every 100 failed PIP reassessments, approximately 93 additional food parcels are handed out.

Furthermore, almost half of all Universal Credit recipients report running out of food monthly, and over a million skip meals regularly due to inadequate support. The cost to public services of hunger and hardship is already estimated at £13.7 billion per year.

Political fallout

The bill has also sparked a political storm. Labour MPs are reportedly preparing a significant backbench rebellion, despite the party leadership instructing them to abstain from voting. Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Alison McGovern has called for the government to publish a full impact assessment before moving forward.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has warned that the proposals could remove up to £4,300 annually in support for around 1.2 million disabled people.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has also raised alarm, estimating that around 600,000 people could lose £2,400 per year as the reforms link UC health payments more closely to PIP entitlement.

Disabled voices

Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), a grassroots campaign group, has called the legislation “immoral and devastating,” and organised national protests under the banner #WelfareNotWarfare. The Disability Benefits Consortium, which includes charities like Scope, Parkinson’s UK, and Mind, says the bill could particularly harm people with less visible or fluctuating conditions.

Government response

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) maintains the bill is about targeting support more effectively. A spokesperson said the government was “committed to protecting the most vulnerable” and pointed to the inclusion of transition periods and exceptions for the terminally ill.

However, critics argue the lack of a published impact assessment makes it impossible to evaluate who will be affected and how deeply. As of now, no official analysis has been released.

What happens next

The bill is due to be debated in Parliament in the coming weeks. Campaigners are urging the public to contact their MPs and demand a halt until a full impact assessment is available.

If passed, the changes could come into force from early 2026.

The stakes

With over 1.2 million people facing potential reductions or complete loss of disability-related support, this bill marks a turning point in the UK’s social security policy. Critics warn that it risks entrenching poverty and hunger, and undermining the government’s own promises on growth, dignity, and reducing reliance on emergency food provision.

As debate intensifies, one thing is clear: the country is on the brink of a major shift in how it treats its most vulnerable citizens.

News

150 years of Mothers’ Union marked at St Davids Cathedral

Published

38 minutes ago

June 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SPECIAL service has been held at St Davids Cathedral to celebrate 150 years of the Mothers’ Union.

Members and officials gathered for the anniversary celebration on Sunday (Jun 21), where Bishop Dorrien welcomed those attending and spent time speaking with the Provincial Chaplain.

The occasion had particular significance for Bishop Dorrien, who is the third generation of his family to be a member of the Mothers’ Union.

The organisation, founded in 1876, continues to support families, communities and church life across Wales and around the world.

Those attending said the celebration was a fitting tribute to the work of generations of members, with hopes expressed for the next 150 years.

Caption:

Celebration: Members and officials gathered at St Davids Cathedral to mark 150 years of the Mothers’ Union (Pic: Diocese of St Davids).

Entertainment

Harbour Fest to bring music, food and maritime magic to Milford Waterfront

Published

1 hour ago

June 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Free family festival will celebrate Milford Haven’s seafaring history and coastal community

MILFORD WATERFRONT will burst into life on Saturday, June 27, as the first Harbour Fest sails into town for a day of music, food, family fun and maritime celebration.

The free event will run from 10:00am to 6:00pm at Mackerel Quay and across the waterfront, bringing together local traders, live entertainment, coastal organisations and independent businesses for a packed day beside the water.

Organisers say the festival will celebrate everything that makes Milford Haven special, from its seafaring history and working harbour to its growing reputation as a destination for food, shopping, culture and family days out.

Visitors will be able to browse stalls from local makers and producers, enjoy street food and live performances, and explore a Marine Zone featuring organisations involved in sea safety, marine conservation and coastal life.

The Marine Zone will include Seagrass Network Cymru / Project Seagrass, Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, Dyfed-Powys Police, NCI Wooltack Point, Rudders Marine Training, RNLI Milford Haven and RNLI Angle Lifeboat.

RNLI Angle Lifeboat is expected to be based on the Mackerel Stage, while the Sea Cadets will be giving rope-tying displays at Milford Haven Museum, where craft activities will also be taking place.

Live entertainment will run throughout the day, with performances from Tom & Abz, Will Scott, Ryan Bristow, Milford Haven Town Band, Kyle Kirkhouse and ShantyJacs Sea Shanties.

Businesses across the waterfront are also joining in. All Pets Vet Care will hold a family-friendly open day with a bouncy castle, treasure hunts, quizzes, craft activities and behind-the-scenes tours. Aurora Artisan Crafts will host vocal performances, Biffy’s Bar & Restaurant will feature solo acoustic music from Laurence Lewis, and Martha’s Vineyard will offer seafood street food with live music from Ryan Bristow and Steve Bartram.

At Tŷ Milford Waterfront’s outdoor plaza there will be face painting, children’s activities, pop-up artists and an afternoon DJ set, while Phoenix Bowl and Pirate Pete’s Adventure Play will have inflatables and glitter tattoos outside.

The Waterfront Gallery will host introduction to felt-making workshops with textile artist Carole Fletcher, giving participants the chance to create a woollen felt flower pin brooch or phone/glasses case. The workshops start at 10:30am, 1:00pm and 3:30pm and cost £5 per person.

A wide range of traders will also be attending, including 5th Flock Spirits Co, Cinnamon Grove Distillery, Cwm Deri Wines & Liqueurs, Ferncraft, Get Loaded, J.J. Pottery, Major Nuts, Orange Garden Design, Pembrokeshire Chilli Farm, Pembrokeshire Gold, Pembrokeshire Lottery, Plumstone Welshcakes and SlateArtSJ.

With music drifting across the marina, food stalls lining the waterfront and lifeboats, sea safety teams and coastal groups adding a strong maritime flavour, Harbour Fest is expected to bring a lively summer atmosphere to one of Pembrokeshire’s best-known waterside destinations.

Organisers say the event is suitable for families, friends and visitors of all ages, with plenty to see and do throughout the day.

Photo caption: Harbour Fest will take place at Milford Waterfront on Saturday, June 27 (Pic: Milford Waterfront).

Community

Artist explores memory, community and changing rural life in new Cardigan exhibition

Published

2 hours ago

June 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEW exhibition exploring memory, belonging and the changing face of rural life is opening in Cardigan.

West Wales artist Sue Dewhurst will present From the Outside Looking In at Oriel Cardi Bach, with the exhibition running from June 27 to July 30.

The collection brings together several new series of work reflecting on the people, places and traditions that shaped Dewhurst’s childhood in the 1970s.

At the heart of the exhibition are the Chapel Girls, a group of paintings focusing on women who might once have filled the chapels that dominated Welsh village life. In Dewhurst’s work, they are now seen finding new forms of belonging through shopping trips, bingo halls, dating apps, bottomless brunches and everyday rituals, while redundant chapels stand silent around them.

The exhibition also includes A Bit of a Do, a series inspired by weddings, family parties and village hall celebrations.

Among the familiar characters are the mysterious woman in her best hat who appears at every gathering, the accountant calculating buffet logistics, the retired nurse dancing barefoot long after everyone else has gone home, and Harry, a grumpy gent with a mysteriously missing fingertip that nobody dares ask about.

Dewhurst’s Ghost Town series will also feature, exploring the changing landscapes of northern mill towns and communities transformed beyond recognition. These works sit alongside expressive coastal paintings inspired by New Quay and the Ceredigion coast.

A further installation of miniature “party paintings” will be presented like treasured relics rescued from a forgotten village hall or working men’s club. Wrapped with handwritten stories and nostalgic memorabilia, the pieces invite visitors to remember people and moments that might otherwise disappear.

Sue said music also plays an important role in the exhibition.

She said: “Music is so evocative for me and can instantly transport me back to a certain point in time.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the lives we don’t usually celebrate – the women who held communities together, the odd characters who turned up at every family occasion, the places that shaped us and the memories that linger long after buildings and traditions have changed.

“This exhibition is really about looking back with affection and humour, while recognising that we are all, in one way or another, trying to find where we belong.”

Originally from Lancashire and now based near Llandysul, Dewhurst has spent more than thirty years working in the arts. She previously ran Oriel Haywire in Llandysul before its closure around eighteen months ago.

From the Outside Looking In opens at Oriel Cardi Bach, Cardigan, on June 27 and runs until July 30.

Visitors are invited to rediscover familiar faces, forgotten stories and the beauty found in ordinary lives.