Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has welcomed the UK Government’s U-turn to increase the number of weeks that someone can keep their Motability Car.
The DWP have announced that those appealing a decision on their PIP application will be able to keep their Motability vehicles for three months as they appeal their decision.
Mr Newlands previously raised this issue with the Prime Minister, highlighting that one of his constituents faced losing her Motability vehicle despite appealing the DWP’s decision to not award enough points in her PIP application.
Mr Newlands has been a vocal critic of the Tories’ cuts to welfare and has been campaigning to allow PIP claimants to retain their Motability vehicles while waiting for their appeal to be heard.
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said: “I welcome this partial U-turn from the UK Government but it doesn’t go far enough and the Tories should guarantee that everyone is able to keep their Motability vehicle until their PIP appeal has been heard.
“This announcement shouldn’t disguise from their horrendous record on supporting those in need. The UK Government’s cruel cuts to welfare have made life incredibly difficult for disabled people. As a constituency MP, I have witnessed this first-hand with the Tories removing vital Motability vehicles from disabled people, making them housebound in the process.
“As we approach the General Election campaign the Tories will have to defend the fact that they have removed Motability vehicles from 50,000 people – directly punishing the people that they should be helping.”