By James Rodger
The Department for Work and Pensions has broken silcence over how the welfare bill will impact Blue Badge holders. The DWP has watered down its benefits bill to get it past its first reading following a Labour Party MP rebellion. And now Liz Kendall has spoken out amid concerns for disabled motorists. Labour MP for Gravesham, Dr Lauren Sullivan asked: 鈥淧IP is, of course, a passport to freedom for many other things such as the Carer鈥檚 Allowance, and many local authorities use PIP for Blue Badges and bus passes. 鈥淒oes the Secretary of State have a plan to mitigate the impact of the potential changes to PIP eligibility on access to Blue Badges and bus passes for disabled people?鈥 READ MORE Major high street brand cuts 1,200 jobs as sales fall by nearly 拢100million Ms Kendall spoke out in reply and this week clarified: 鈥淎s I said in my statement, existing PIP claimants will continue to have that benefit. It will not be affected even if they have a reassessment, and neither will all the passported benefits. 鈥淐arer鈥檚 Allowance is the best known. But all passported benefits will be included in that protection.鈥 It comes as the DWP was slammed for its watering down of the bill by disabled campaigners, who spoke out to the Guardian newspaper. Charlotte Hughes, who is unable to work due to fluid on the brain as well as anxiety and depression, told the newspaper: 鈥淭he cruelty [of this legislation] is unlike any I鈥檝e seen in recent history. As a disabled person, it鈥檚 already difficult to survive. We鈥檝e already cut back on everything that we can and we can鈥檛 cut back any more.鈥 鈥淲e expected it from the Tory party. But Labour were elected because of their promises to make positive changes. I didn鈥檛 vote Labour for cruelty and the continuation of Tory party policy. It鈥檚 unforgivable,” a second said. 鈥淎s a community, we鈥檝e been put through a mental and physical wringer,鈥 a third said. 鈥淢y health is at the worst I鈥檝e known them. But we carry on fighting because it鈥檚 our lifeline at stake. Now, I start days of recuperation.鈥