"I couldn't afford bills and food at the same time" - Portsmouth resident protests against Welfare Reform Bill
A Portsmouth resident is part of a disabled group who are protesting today
Last updated 3rd Jul 2025
A Portsmouth resident is speaking out as their disability campaign group protest against the Welfare Reform Bill outside the MP's office this afternoon.
The group are protesting outside the Portsmouth South MP, Stephen Morgan's office.
This comes as the Welfare Reform Bill is accepted following several u-turns after being met with backlash from backbench MPs.
Ila Dore, co-organiser of a Portsmouth disability group, said: "Until I got PIP (Personal Independence Payment), I couldn't afford bills and food at the same time.
"Being disabled is so expensive.
"For example, I use more water because I shower for longer because I can't move as fast.
"I use more power in the winter because I have to heat my home more otherwise I can't function.
"These bills add up and the result of that was that I was having to decide which bill I was going to skip out on paying so that I could eat this month."
The group have conducted several protests this week against the Bill.
The government announced another u-turn yesterday and the Bill was accepted in Parliament after facing backlash from backbench MPs.
The Bill faced challenges inside and outside of Parliament with many concerned about the Personal Independence Payment given to disabled people.
Mr Dola added: "Most of us are already in poverty, most of us work and won't be able to work if they take our PIP away because that's what PIP is supposed to be for.
"It's supposed to be to facilitate us functioning, participating in public life, being able to go on buses and that kind of thing.
"If we can no longer do that, then we can't work."
They said PIP has paid for her wheelchair, rollator, ergonomic handled cane, access handles near her bed and toilet, cleaners, and pays for food.
Mr Dola said he worries about the amount of tasks she currently has help with being up to her if her PIP is taken away.
He said he worries about his mental health if he can't train to become a counsellor because he said he knows he can do it well.
They said: "I don't want to just be sitting at home.
"Most disabled people don't, we want to work.
"But we do need to be getting that support to be able to do that.
"I'd feel like the world didn't care about me as an individual, I would feel like this country didn't really care about whether the disabled people within it survive or not."