Women’s Policy Group NI Responds to Pathways to Work Green Paper
1st July, 2025 – The Women’s Policy Group (WPG) Northern Ireland has issued a comprehensive response to the UK Government's "Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working" Green Paper. The WPG, a coalition of policy experts and practitioners advocating for gender equality through an intersectional feminist lens, has expressed grave concerns about the proposed reforms and their potential impact on women and disabled individuals in Northern Ireland.
Key Points of the Response:
Stigmatizing Narrative: The WPG criticizes the Green Paper for perpetuating a harmful narrative that stigmatizes benefit recipients as lazy or jobless, which is both inaccurate and damaging.
Disproportionate Impact on Northern Ireland: The response highlights the unique challenges faced by Northern Ireland, including high numbers of benefit claimants and significant economic inactivity, particularly among women.
Impact on Women: The WPG underscores the disproportionate impact of the proposed reforms on women, who make up the majority of Universal Credit and PIP claimants, and are more likely to be lone parents or carers.
Concerns About Consultation Process: The WPG criticizes the consultation process for being poorly designed and not genuinely seeking input from those affected by the proposed changes.
Call for Withdrawal: The WPG urges the Government to withdraw the Green Paper and engage with Disabled People’s Organisations (DPOs) to develop more supportive and evidence-based policies.
The proposed reforms are not only harmful but also fail to recognize the valuable contributions of disabled individuals to our society and economy. We call on the Government to rethink these proposals and engage in meaningful consultation with those affected.
About the Women’s Policy Group (WPG):
The WPG is a coalition of women from various sectors, including trade unions, grassroots organizations, and human rights groups, advocating for gender equality and systemic change. The group's work is informed by the lived experiences of women and girls and rooted in international human rights law.
For more information or to discuss the response further, please contact:
Elaine Crory, Women’s Sector Lobbyist at WRDA
Meghan Hoyt, Women’s Sector Lobbyist Policy Assistant at WRDA
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