I voted against the UC and PIP Bill this evening.
I welcome tonight's concessions and want to see the positive elements of the bill implemented but there was simply too much uncertainty and too little notice.
This is not how decisions impacting vulnerable people should be made.
On BBC Radio Wales this morning, I welcomed the government listening to MP's deep concerns about welfare cuts, but said I couldn't support a bill that will now instead treat those who become disabled in the future differently to those already claiming PIP. I will be voting against on Tuesday
The government has engineered itself into a state of wilful ignorance. It risks dismantling international humanitarian law to maintain its support for Israel.
We are at a hinge moment in history: we can suspend arms exports to Israel, or risk being complicit in genocide.
bit.ly/4mQaqRE
Tuesday night's meeting on tenant farms in Sarn was incredibly well attended, with easily over 150 concerned constituents, tenant farmers, and local elected representatives turning out.
My contribution to the meeting is available to read on my website: bit.ly/4mB5oIo
The government's plans to cut disability benefits are unconscionable and I will not vote for them.
Here are the actions I have taken so far on behalf of constituents: stevewitherden.wales/2025/05/08/i...
Tightening PIP eligibility criteria will pull the rug out from under disabled people across the country.
These cuts will hit Wales particularly hard, and they will hit my constituents particularly hard too.
Read my full speech here: bit.ly/3Z9UzTt
There are 275,000 PIP recipients in Wales, more than 14% of the working age population.
These cuts will hit us disproportionately hard and vulnerable people will be put at risk.
The people of Wales did not vote for more austerity.
I did not stand to become an MP to push hundreds, if not thousands, of my disabled constituents into poverty.
I will not be voting to cut benefits for the most vulnerable.
The government should do the right thing and drop the policy.
There are lots of ways constituents can keep up to date with how I’m representing Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr.
I write regularly for local media, send a monthly newsletter, share weekly updates on social media, and much more.
Links to all that can be found here: linktr.ee/stevewitherd...
My update for the week. Enjoy the sunny weather this weekend ☀️
I worked a lot of minimum wage jobs in my youth. When I started working in 1998, the introduction of the National Minimum Wage by the last Labour government made a big difference to my life.
People deserve honest pay for honest work.
Excellent to meet with my own MS Ken Skates in his capacity as Welsh Transport Minister, along with both other Welsh Labour MPs and English MPs bordering Wales, to discuss rail infrastructure. I raised making Ruabon compliant with the Equality Act 2010 and a station for Carno.
What a week. However you spend your weekend, I hope you have a good one. S.
Cutting benefits is a political choice that the government is making.
There are alternatives to ever deeper austerity.
Properly taxing the wealthiest after decades of widening inequality would be a start.
My statement on Powys Teaching Health Board's decision to push ahead with planned increases to waiting times for Powys residents accessing healthcare in England.
Reported cuts to benefits are extremely concerning. We absolutely should not be removing benefits that allow disabled people to be independent, get work, and stay in work.
I spoke to BBC Wales yesterday to call for wealth taxes, not benefits cuts.
stevewitherden.wales/2025/03/14/w...
The Air Ambulances APPG is back off the ground. I was pleased to chair its inaugural meeting last week.
While we await the Welshpool base ruling, we must try and change the national conversation around rural healthcare more widely.
Read more on my website: bit.ly/3DL6PSU
The Education APPG is launching a call for evidence on the Love of Learning.
I want to hear from everyone involved in education about how we can improve the curriculum and assessment design, increase support for teachers, and boost reading for pleasure.
Read more: bit.ly/3Du1KOV
My Instagram account is now set up and I'll be posting lots of updates on there too, please give me a follow:
www.instagram.com/stevewitherd...
Today is #WorldBookDay. As a former teacher it is heartbreaking that today, only a third of children say they read for fun. It is the single biggest indicator of future success.
My favourite book is The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists - comment yours below @publishersassoc.bsky.social
With Parliament back in session after recess last week, I wanted to share what a day in the life looks like for a constituency MP.
Here’s what I got up to last Wednesday:
stevewitherden.wales/2025/02/26/a...
Last week, I went on BBC Wales Today to speak about the National Farmers Union’s meeting with the Treasury on the changes to Agricultural Property Relief.
You can read the full interview here: bit.ly/4kdYcR9
International law is perfectly clear, the UK's export of arms to Israel is helping them maintain their illegal occupation of Palestinian territory.
The partial suspension of arms licenses must go further. We need a total ban on arms exports to Israel.
My statement on the proposed closure of Ysgol Bro Cynllaith:
