Government fails to act over minister who shared post on ‘dangerous’ DWP policies

The government is refusing to act or criticise its minister for disabled people after she shared a social media post that attacked her own department’s disability benefit reforms.

Last week, Mims Davies shared a post on Twitter by a disability charity that described government reforms of personal independence payment (PIP) and out-of-work disability benefits as “dangerous”.

The post by the charity Scope also accused ministers of “demonising” disabled people.

Davies (pictured) has refused to explain to Disability News Service (DNS) why she shared the post, or to say whether she shares the charity’s concerns about PIP and reforms such as tightening the work capability assessment, speeding up the rollout of universal credit, and ending what the prime minister has called – in a speech last month – a “sicknote culture”.

But Davies appears to have breached the long-standing convention of ministerial “collective responsibility”, which states that all ministers are bound by decisions made by the Cabinet.

As described in a briefing document published by the House of Commons Library, this means that “if a minister disagrees with a government policy, he or she must still publicly support it”.

A minister who cannot accept this collective responsibility “is expected to resign”.

Her actions have fuelled speculation that Davies may become the latest Conservative MP to defect to Labour, after yesterday’s move by Dover MP Natalie Elphicke.

A Conservative party spokesperson refused to comment on the actions of Mims Davies and instead said he had passed on the concerns to the government’s special advisers in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

They had not responded by noon today (Thursday).

The party spokesperson also suggested that DNS contact the Cabinet Office.

The Cabinet Office declined to comment, and suggested DNS contact DWP.

DWP has also refused to comment on Davies’ decision to share the post, but referred DNS instead to a separate post in which Davies encouraged disabled people to engage in the PIP consultation.

Davies has now had several opportunities to clarify to DNS why she shared the post, and has repeatedly failed to do so.

Barry Ginley, chair of the Conservative Disability Group, also raised concerns about the government’s reforms this week.

He told DNS: “I can’t say why the post was shared, only Mims can answer that question.”

But he added: “I do recognise and understand the concerns of Scope and many disabled people, in which I share.

“I would like to see more information of how any changes would impact disabled people.

“I have recommended to everyone I speak to to respond to the consultation and let the government know their thoughts.

“The speech from the prime minister has made many disabled people nervous about their futures and their independence.

“I understand the need to reduce the growing benefits bill, but as a disabled individual, I hope the reforms assist disabled people to continue to lead independent lives with the benefits to ensure this happens.”

Vicky Foxcroft, Labour’s shadow minister for disabled people, said: “The government’s minister for disabled people appears to disagree with her own government policy, encouraging stakeholders to brand it ‘dangerous’.

“This government really is a shambles. After 14 years of failing disabled people, it really is time for change.”

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