UK charity Mind has issued an extensive statement reflecting on the government’s impending benefit cuts and, more specifically, their comments that mental health conditions are being ‘overdiagnosed’.
Mind, the largest mental health charity in the country which raises tens of millions for related illnesses every year, has been left understandably troubled by the recent news that the Labour Party intends to scale back the level of welfare support that millions of Brits receive on a regular basis.
Most notably, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced in the House of Commons that the number of people claiming personal independence payment (PIP) is “not sustainable” and, therefore, eligibility will be made more stringent.
Responding in a number of posts this week, Mind has reiterated their belief that “our mental health is getting worse” and that “cutting benefits is short-sighted”, arguing instead that the “UK government needs to shift focus and tackle the real barriers to employment.” You can see two lengthy replies below:
As you can see, not only does Mind staunchly disagree with the government’s stance but they believe that in addition to the problematic wait times and ever-mounting pressure on services like the NHS, “rhetoric like this is dangerous” and fundamentally “stops people getting support” when they need it.
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In a separate post on social media, the charity continued: “Behind the headlines and the stigmatising language about disability benefits are real people – millions of them. People who are scared about what this news might mean for their day-to-day lives.”
“If that’s you, know this: you are not alone. We see you. We hear you. These changes, if they do happen, won’t come in immediately. And we will not stop fighting until the benefits system is fair, compassionate, and works for those of us with mental health problems.”
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And Mind has made a real impact on mental health services in recent decades, generating over £42.9 million between 2023 and 2024 alone, whilst providing frontline support to countless people in crisis online, over the phone and in person daily.
The organisation’s associate director of policy and campaigns, Minesh Patel, spoke to BBC Breakfast on Monday, 17 March about what they feel are more pressing issues and obstacles preventing people from getting into and staying in employment.
Even prior to the welfare crackdown – which is hoping to save the UK economy an estimated £5 billion – being announced, Mind responded to early reports of the cutbacks in kind.
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“The government’s solution: blame us, and punish us by taking away our financial safety net”, they wrote. “Cutting benefits isn’t the way to support people with mental health problems into work – it will only push more people into poverty and shift costs elsewhere. It doesn’t solve the problem.
They summed up things by adding: “If the government wants real change, it has to improve employment support, tackle workplace stigma, and make sure people aren’t stuck on mental health waiting lists for years.”
It goes without saying that if you need mental health support, you can call Mind’s Manchester arm on 0161 769 5732 or get in touch with them online; alternatively, you can use the NHS’ mental health services such as Manchester Talking Therapies and the 111 number.
As for questions surrounding how these government changes to welfare benefits and mental health support might apply to you, Mind have also put together a helpful breakdown HERE.
Featured Images — Sky News (screenshot via YouTube)/Malcolmxl5 (via Wikimedia Commons)
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Government launches £442m drive to get rough sleepers off streets before Christmas
Emily Sergeant
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has launched a £442m drive to get rough sleepers off the streets before Christmas.
Learning from ‘innovative’ approaches put into place during the pandemic, the Government has announced that new accommodation will be rolled out across England this winter, as well as offering practical help with housing, health, and other needs to support people to build a more stable life for themselves in the future.
The new commitment to offer everyone a route off the streets this Christmas, along with boosted funding, reflect the Andy Burnham‘s national drive to make ‘real change’ and get everyone playing their part in ending rough sleeping.
Not only will these plans change the lives of rough sleepers, but it’s also said they will have huge benefits for the country as a whole.
Research from homelessness charity Crisis suggests that by preventing 40,000 people from becoming homeless for a year, taxpayers could save around £370 million.
The Government has launched a £442m drive to get rough sleepers off the streets before Christmas / Credit: Number 10 Press Office | Jon Tyson (via Unsplash)
As well provisions to get people off the streets, and the intensive ‘wraparound’ support, the newly allocated funding will also help local areas deliver more than 1,000 ‘settled’ homes over the next three years, it has been confirmed.
Areas facing the greatest pressures will receive the largest share of support.
Working alongside councils, Mayors will play a leading role in driving local action to end rough sleeping, and will be tasked with making decisions that are right for their communities to deliver help where it’s needed most.
The Prime Minister says he ‘won’t accept’ rough sleeping any longer. He commented: “No one should have to bed down in a doorway or outside a station, but we’ve seen it for so long that it feels like Westminster has started to accept it.
“That’s why my first instruction as Prime Minister was to end rough sleeping, and it’s why today we’re getting started with a national drive to get everyone in for Christmas. We did it in the pandemic, we can do it again. But it needs all of us.
“Government will put the money in, but I’m asking leaders in communities and sectors across society to play their part locally too.
“Let’s get people out the cold, and let’s bring back hope.”
Featured Image – Gary Knight (via Flickr)
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Trainline and Virgin Atlantic among companies being investigated for ‘misleading’ pricing
Emily Sergeant
A number of companies are currently under investigation for ‘misleading’ pricing practices.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched three new consumer protection investigations into Trainline, Virgin Atlantic, and RED Driving School over concerns that customers were not shown the total price upfront when buying things like train and coach tickets, holidays, or even driving lessons.
The investigations are part of a wider CMA clampdown on misleading pricing practices – in this instance, where mandatory charges are separated from the headline price, or added later in the buying process, which is known as drip pricing.
These practices leave consumers facing ‘unexpected’ costs or having to calculate the so-called true cost themselves.
Such practices can also impact competition between businesses, as a firm using drip pricing may falsely appear to be cheaper than a competitor pricing correctly, and therefore attract more customers.
Trainline and Virgin Atlantic are among the companies being investigated for ‘misleading’ pricing / Credit: Northern | Aric Cheng (via Unsplash)
Trainline is being investigated over whether all mandatory fees have been included in the upfront prices displayed to consumers buying tickets in advance on its app and website, while Virgin Atlantic’s investigation will focus on whether mandatory resort fees and local taxes have been included in the upfront prices shown to customers buying package holidays.
RED Driving School is being investigated over how a mandatory booking fee and ‘digital’ fee have been displayed to people booking driving lessons – specifically whether these fees have been included in the total upfront price.
“At a time when many households are watching every pound they spend, it is important that people are not surprised by extra fees,” commented Emma Cochrane, who is the Executive Director for Consumer Protection at the CMA.
“Clear pricing helps people compare offers confidently and choose the option that works best for them.
“Unexpected mandatory charges make this much harder, which is why the CMA initially put these firms on notice over concerns about their pricing practices and is now opening formal investigations.”
The CMA says it’s at the beginning of its investigations and has reached no conclusions about whether these firms have broken the law.
If it finds there has been an infringement of the law, the CMA can order businesses to pay compensation to affected customers or be charged up to 10% of global turnover.
Danny Jones -
21st March 2025 
