Senedd candidates back call for ‘genuine’ disability review

22 Senedd candidates have backed a pledge calling for a “a genuine and independent disability review” in response to widespread scepticism of the UK government’s ‘Timms Review’ into the PIP disability benefit.

Campaign group Disabled People Against Cuts Cymru (DPAC Cymru) collected the signatures over a seven day period. It has consistently maintained that genuine co-production of the review is not happening as promised, with cuts to Motability already indirectly undermining the benefit.

Raising similar concerns at a lobby of the Senedd in October, DPAC’s previous calls had received support from Senedd members of every party.

Senedd candidates backing the new pledge agreed to:

support calls for a genuine and independent disability review, led by disabled people and their organisations, inviting the views of carers and trade unions [and to] call on the incoming Welsh Government to do its part in supporting that review.

No Labour Party candidate agreed to sign the pledge. However Dr Mahaboob Basha, the lead candidate for Welsh Labour in the Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd constituency, provided a statement noting DPAC’s concerns.

The full list of signatories and responses are published here, with extracts below. A spokesperson from DPAC Cymru was keen to stress that:

candidates are extremely busy campaigning, so please don’t be disappointed if a candidate that you would normally have expected to sign was not able to do so in time.

DPAC Cymru added that it is: “extremely grateful to everyone who responded”.

Senedd candidates’ responses

10 of the signatures came from Plaid Cymru candidates, like Mair Rowlands who said:

I am happy to confirm that all Plaid Cymru candidates standing in Bangor Conwy Môn support the call for a genuine and independent disability review, led by disabled people and their organisations, with the meaningful involvement of carers and trade unions.

We share your concern about the failure to deliver meaningful co‑production, and about the damaging impacts of indirect cuts to disability support, including through changes to the Motability scheme.

While responsibility for disability benefits remains reserved to Westminster, decisions taken there have profound consequences for disabled people in Wales and place additional pressures on devolved services including health, social care and housing.

Plaid Cymru therefore also supports calling on the incoming Welsh government to do everything within its powers to engage with, support and press for such a review, and to challenge policies that undermine and harm disabled people’s rights and living standards in Wales.

All five Welsh Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) candidates signed the pledge. John Williams, the lead candidate in Caerdydd Ffynnon Taf, said:

The Socialist Party has long argued that disabled people must have democratic control over decisions that affect their lives. I will call on the Welsh government to reject all cuts immediately while working with unions and campaigners to defend and improve support.

The pledge also received support from:

• Two Green Party candidates.
• The Socialist Labour Party candidate Kathrine Jones.
• Open Party candidate Dr Justna Muhith.
• Independent candidates Rhys ab Owen and Owen Lewis.
• Former MP and Pontypridd Cynon Merthyr community independent candidate Beth Winter, who promised to be a “staunch ally” if elected.

Basha, the lead candidate for Welsh Labour in the Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd Constituency, did not sign the pledge, but provided a statement, saying:

Welsh Labour is committed to the principle of co-producing policies with disabled people and observing the principle of: ‘nothing about us, without us’.

We will continue to uphold the rights of disabled people and ensure their voices are heard and acted upon, so that we can together create an inclusive society where disabled people can live, work and flourish as equal citizens.

As someone who has colour blindness and dyslexia, I will be voice of my community both inside and outside.

I note that the review is currently calling for evidence, with a closing date of 28 May 2026. I note your concerns and hope that you will submit evidence explaining those concerns in response to this call for evidence.

In terms of Welsh Labour’s position, we are committed to fairness you can feel across all policy areas, from health to housing, care to culture, education to energy and the environment – because we want to have a positive impact on people from all walks of life and to ensure that Wales remains a caring society for all.

Featured image via the Canary