by Emma Livingstone
As CEO of UP – The Adult Cerebral Palsy Movement, I want to raise a clear and urgent concern.
The Government was elected on a promise to close the economic inactivity gap – to get more people into work and support those currently unable to do so. But at the same time, it is slashing the very support systems that make employment possible for disabled people.
Two Policies, Opposite Directions
On one hand, we hear the government wants to increase workforce participation. On the other, it is:
- Cutting £5 billion from disability benefits
- Tightening access to the Access to Work scheme
- Making it harder for people to get support workers or equipment
- Risking the independence and employment of thousands
This is not just inconsistent – it’s self-defeating.
Why Access to Work Matters
For adults with cerebral palsy, schemes like Access to Work are often the only way they can take up and stay in jobs. This scheme funds support workers, equipment, transport – practical help that removes real barriers.
Without it, many in our community will have no realistic path to employment. Some will be forced to quit jobs they already have.
So how can the government credibly aim to reduce economic inactivity while removing the tools that enable disabled people to work?
Real Lives at Risk
Let’s be clear about the consequences:
- 700,000 low-income families could be hit even harder by these cuts
- 400,000 people are at risk of being pushed into poverty
- Adults with lifelong conditions like cerebral palsy will see their independence eroded
This is not a path to economic inclusion. It is a path to further marginalisation.
Our Call
We are calling on government to:
- Reverse the cuts to Access to Work and disability benefits
- Engage directly with disabled people and advocacy organisations
- Align employment policies with the real needs of those they claim to support
At UP, we work every day to empower adults with cerebral palsy to live, work, and thrive. But we cannot do that alone. Policy must support, not sabotage, inclusion.
You can’t reduce the inactivity gap by pulling the rug out from under the people who most need support to work.