This is not co-design, this is not co-production, this is another British cop -out!

In a statement on June 17, 2025, a spokesperson for Comhairle Uladh (Ulster Executive), Sinn Féin Poblachtach said: “We support the actions of a strong group of allies who staged a principled walk out from a British government-led event in the offices of the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) in Belfast. This was in protest of a top-down, sanitised welfare agenda jaded by Britain’s influence.

“As citizens living in an Occupied Ireland we know only too well the issue of a British designed policy-based system. We’ve witnessed pro-British policymakers handle these issues like juggling a hot potato, starting with the British government’s introduction of the Welfare Reform Act 2012.

“During a legislative impasse from 2012-2015 the pro-British political class at Stormont struggled to demonstrate their willingness beyond sectarian divisions which would bring about any changes which ordinary people espoused. This stagnation was for all to see; they were unable to offer any tangible improvements to the lives of people living day-to-day and hand-to-mouth: families struggling financially, barely making enough to cover their basics.

“By November 2015, the Occupied Six Counties politicians cobbled together the pro-British Fresh Start Agreement (FSA) after a consent motion was passed by the Stormont administration. This was to give the British government in Westminster the permission to legislate for welfare reforms. In effect, the actions of these pro-British bootlickers undermined and politically damaged their own legitimacy.

“In around 2017, other events took centre stage in Occupied Ireland. This was a very public spate when the Provisionals pulled down the British administration in Stormont. This fracas lasted until 2020 and during the interim, again nothing was being achieved for those people facing the disparity of benefit reforms.

“During October 2023 there had been a significant phase in the rollout of Universal Credit (UC) which meant replacing six types of benefits. Amidst these benefit changes a new British government was elected and by 2024 a Tory-lite British Labour administration wasted no time and continued the onslaught of welfare reform.

“It is anathema to Sinn Féin Poblachtach that the Westminster parliament has a final say over welfare legislation in Occupied Ireland.

“The welfare reform has become the Pathways to Work Green Paper, which is the work of these British autocrats and portrayed as an attempt to consult citizens about their plans and proposals to reform health and disability benefits and employment support. This Green Paper is being peddled as an important staging post on a journey of reform, building on the approach set out in the so-called Get Britain Working White Paper in November 2024.

“Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) had activists present at the British Dept of Work & Pensions (DWP) most recent Pathways to Work Green Paper consultation. They stated that what was on offer didn’t demonstrate real engagement. ‘This was not co-production. This was a performative exercise designed to tick boxes and pretend that disabled people had been involved when in reality, our voices were controlled, our questions sidelined, and our priorities erased.’

“They went on to say, even before the event got started, DPAC representatives made a clear and reasonable request: that disabled people be allowed to run the discussion using their own agenda, one based on the real, lived priorities of their community. They concluded, ‘We just wanted to talk about what truly matters: the impact of benefit cuts, rising poverty, loss of independence, and the daily bureaucracy that punishes us for being disabled in an ableist system.’

“Other participants such as Women’s Support Network (WSN) made their position clear. They said cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) will have a knock-on impacts: with many carers likely to lose access to Carer’s Allowance.

“They further stated, ‘We’re concerned about the gendered impacts of these proposals as women are more likely to claim social security benefits and to provide care.’ Included in their written response to the consultation; the (WSN) said they refused to answer any specific questions because it assumes acceptance of the cuts and they did not accept them.

“It was also noted by observers who were present who explained that the (DWP) consultation facilitators were determined to stick to their own plans, penned by the British government which ignored the elephant in the room: that social security is being dismantled while disabled people are being pushed further into poverty and despair.”

PRO
Comhairle Uladh (Ulster Executive)
Sinn Féin Poblachtach

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