Local Lib Dems vote to stop Government plans to time-limit support for disabled people

Liberal Democrats from Hinckley and Bosworth were amongst delegates at the Lib Dem conference who voted to stop plans to time limit support for disabled people. The government has proposed to cut eligibility to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) to twelve months. Charities like Macmillian that represent cancer patients opposed the plans as the side-effects of cancer and its treatment can be extremely debilitating and many patients need longer than a year to get back to work.
Amongst those voting for the motion were Cllr David Bil, Cllr Mathew Hulbert and Liberal Democrat parliamentary spokesman for Hinckley and Bosworth Cllr Michael Mullaney. Michael Mullaney said "Everyone understands that reform of welfare is needed. However, people who have paid into the system all their working lives, who then find they are unable to work because of disability or illness, shouldn't have crucial benefits taken away after just one year regardless of whether they are well enough to return to work.
"Earlier this year it was a vote of Lib Dem conference that forced the Conservatives to make changes to the NHS bill, showing how crucial it is that there is Lib Dem input into government policies. Hopefully this conference vote on ESA will ensure that the government will change its policy, and people who are ill will continue to get the support they need."