- Having celebrated the Labour victory in the General Election we can all assess this first difficult year trying to restore our public services. I would venture to suggest that I feel on behalf of disabled people in Wales and England, the government got the Welfare Reform Bill badly wrong due to their failure to consult with users on the ground like myself. The Timms review is under way, but we must have genuine consultation in respect of PIP and other benefits. It is crucial that the Labour government really starts listening to the people it was elected to support. The budget is the next big test for the government? I hope local DPAC activists will take this opportunity to make their voice heard.
- In January I transitioned from ESA and PIP to UC and PIP. But oddly my weekly Direct Payments contribution has actually fallen; whilst good we cannot quite fathom why? My frustration is that I cannot understand how this has been calculated. I’m in the process of agreeing a repayment plan over a £5,991 “debt” demanded by the council – their calculation, but I do not accept it. There is an ongoing dispute over my weekly contribution, which had been set at £35.15 for many years. I had increased my contribution by 18% to £40.50, but the council have been demanding £100 – the maximum, which I simply cannot afford. We have not reached an agreement and having challenged the council I lost my appeal (complaint).
- I am pleased to hear that UNITE union are supporting the creation of a Wrexham Trades Council. This could be a progressive step organising all trade unions in Wrexham and the left more generally. I hope this might come to fruition in 2026, so the unions could play a more positive role in the Senedd elections.
- At PMQ’s recently, I was delighted to note that Jonathan Brasher, Labour MP for Hartlepool raised Friedreich’s Ataxia with the stand-in Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy. This helps to raise the profile of our cause with the public.
- I’m on my current charity challenge raising funds for Ataxia by cycling “Route 66” on my exercise machine. I have completed over 500 miles and any sponsorship is very welcome, via my Justgiving page https://www.justgiving.com/page/nathan-lee-davies-66
- This year my Care and Support Plan was a gruelling process and sadly largely pointless. I am challenging this procedure via the Senedd Cross Party Disability Group with the support of my informal care co-op. Councils need to improve the process, procedures and paperwork for all disabled people.
- I am now leading the call for a Commissioner for Disabled People as a way of raising the profile of disability issues for people in Wales. A Commissioner would be an advocate for our equality rights, rather than many of us being left at the mercy of dysfunctional council social care departments, such as Wrexham. Why are we forced to resort to the blunt instrument of the Ombudsman to fight our corner, which takes months and may still fail. Here’s a link to read my blog about the role of a Commissioner for Disabled People: https://nathanleedavies.com/2024/11/02/a-commissioner-for-disabled-people-abridged-copy/
- Wales has often led the way and been innovative with human rights. However on the matter of disability rights and Direct Payments, I would draw your attention to the example from Scotland. They have re-instigated the Scottish ILF (Independent Living Fund): This enables disabled people to use the funds to have a more creative, lively and fulfilled lifestyle doing the things that make them happy. We should be campaigning to have this ILF approach applied to Wales for the benefit of disabled people.
- Perhaps more people should be inspired by the example of Betty Brown, the 92 year old former sub-postmaster who finally received her compensation payout over the Fujitsu Horizon scandal after 26 years..!
- I try to develop my brain by learning about new things each year and 2025 is no different. It’s been three sports that have taken my interest, namely; Learning the rules of NFL American Football, the idiosyncrasies of English cricket and the traditions of Japanese sumo.
