What You Can Do to Oppose the Green Paper

“Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper”

• Respond to the Consultation
  • Official Government Consultation Page Submit your views by 30 June
• Contact Your MP – Disabled People have several effective methods to ensure their voices are heard by Members of Parliament (MPs) regarding issues such as welfare reforms.  Find Your MP: Use the UK Parliament’s Find MPs tool or WriteToThem.com to get contact details.
  • Write a Letter or Email: This is the most common and effective way, as it provides a written record. Always include your address to confirm you are a constituent.  If you need help structuring your message, use a template. For example, Inclusion London and Benefits and Work provide templates you can personalise with your story and concerns. 
  • Phone Your MP’s Office: For quick questions or to arrange a meeting. Call the House of Commons or the MP’s constituency office.  State your requirements – Let your MP’s office know if you need communication support, such as a BSL interpreter, easy-read materials, or if you communicate differently (e.g., using assistive technology or communication boards), inform the MP’s staff in advance so they can accommodate your needs.
  • Attend an MP Surgery: MPs hold regular sessions where constituents can meet them in person or via phone/video call to discuss concerns. Meeting Preparation Guide: Leonard Cheshire’s “Meet your MP” guide (PDF) Contact your MP’s office to book a slot.
  • Online Platforms: Some MPs are accessible via social media or their own websites.
  • Call to Action: Ask your MP to:
    • Raise the issue in Parliament and oppose the reforms.
    • Demand publication of missing data (e.g., PIP loss projections).
    • Meet with you to discuss constituent concerns
  • Follow Up – Send a Thank You: After your meeting or correspondence, thank your MP and summarise what was discussed. This helps keep your issue on their radar and builds a relationship for future advocacy.
• Prepare Your Message
  • Personalise Your Message: MPs are more likely to respond to individual stories than generic emails.
  • Personal Stories Matter: Sharing your lived experience as a disabled person can have a powerful impact. MPs often hear from organisations, but direct accounts humanise the issues and highlight the urgency for action.
  • Be Clear and Specific: Clearly outline the issue, how it affects you, and what action you want your MP to take. MPs appreciate a specific request, such as raising your concern in Parliament or opposing a particular reform.
  • Request a Response: Ask your MP to reply outlining their position and any actions they will take.
  • Be Respectful and Concise: MPs are busy, so keep your message focused and polite.
  • Highlight Legal and Ethical Concerns: Reference relevant laws or rights if appropriate (e.g., Equality Act, Human Rights).
  • Involve Others: Handing in petitions or attending events with other campaigners can amplify your message and show collective support.
• Join Campaigns and Protests:  Attend Protests and Local Events: Join local and national protests or meetings organised by Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs).
  • Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC): Organises protests and actions against the reforms.
  • Crips Against Cuts: Grassroots actions and local group mobilisation.
• Share Your Story
  • Submit evidence to charities and campaign groups to inform their consultation responses (e.g., Scope, DRUK, RNIB).
  • Media outreach: Contact local newspapers or radio stations to highlight real-life impacts (e.g., “I’ll lose £12,000/year if PIP changes go ahead”).
  • Social media: Use hashtags like #SpPIPCuts and tag MPs
  • Parliamentary evidence: Submit testimony to All-Party Parliamentary Groups (APPGs) on disability and carers.
• Sign Petitions
  • Scope’s Petition Against Cuts: Add your name to oppose the reforms.
  • Other Petitions: Search for “PIP Green Paper” or “Disability Benefits Cuts” for current campaigns. 
• Raise Awareness
  • Share articles, briefings and easy-read resources on social media and with local media.  This helps inform others and builds wider opposition.
  • Highlight the Impact: Publicly share personal stories about how the proposed changes could increase poverty and hardship for both Disabled People and Carers.
• Collaborate with Disabled People’s Organisations
  • Work in Partnership: Work alongside DPOs such as Disability Rights UK, which coordinate national campaigns and provide resources for collective action.
• Join Local Movements: Get involved in local branches of national organisations or grassroots groups.
• Advocate for Policy Change
  • Demand Government Engagement: Urge the government to consult directly Disabled People and carers to ensure any reforms reflect real needs and lived experience.
  • Push for Adequate Support: Campaign for reforms that value unpaid carers, provide adequate financial support, and enable carers to balance paid work with caring responsibilities.

Most Effective Ways to Follow Up with Your MP After Sending a Letter

1. Wait About Two Weeks Before Following Up
   MPs receive a large volume of correspondence, so it’s normal to wait around two weeks for a response before taking further action.
2. Follow Up with a Phone Call
   If you haven’t heard back, call your MP’s constituency or parliamentary office to check that your letter or email was received and to politely ask for a response.
3. Request a Meeting or Attend an MP Surgery
   • Ask for an appointment to discuss your concerns in person or via phone/video call.
   • MPs hold regular surgeries in their constituencies where constituents can raise issues directly.
4. Send a Polite Follow-Up Email or Letter
   • Keep it brief and reference your original correspondence.
   • Reiterate your concerns and request an update or action.
   • Remain polite and respectful to maintain a good relationship.
5. Ask for Specific Actions
   • Request that your MP raise the issue in Parliament through questions, debates, or motions.
   • Ask them to make confidential enquiries with government officials or ministers on your behalf.
6. Use Social Media to Engage Your MP
   • Politely tag or message your MP on platforms like Twitter to remind them of your concerns.
   • Public engagement can sometimes prompt a quicker response.
7. Send a Thank You and Summary After a Meeting or Response
   • After any contact or meeting, send a thank-you email summarising what was agreed and next steps.
   • If commitments are not followed through, send friendly reminders to encourage action.