Wiltshire MP slams 'missing in action' members of parliament

Liberal Democrat MP for Chippenham, Calne, Corsham, Lyneham and Royal Wootton Bassett, Sarah Gibson, has criticised Conservative and Reform MPs in Wiltshire who support crucial safeguards to protect vulnerable people and pensioners in a vote on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill.

This Government Bill gives the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) sweeping new powers to require banks and financial institutions to share people’s financial data to help verify benefit claims — even when there is no suspicion of wrongdoing.

Lords Amendment 43, which was voted on in the Commons on the 5th of November, expands the scope of an independent review of these powers to also consider the adverse effects for individuals, including the vulnerable, and to consider the ability of benefit claimants to accessing banking services.

The review would have acted as a safeguard against wrongful penalties and the misuse of personal financial data.

Liberal Democrat MPs, including Sarah Gibson, opposed the Government’s removal of this amendment from the Bill.

The Wiltshire MP warns that this latest Government move represents a further expansion of their data-gathering powers and is concerned about its impact on pensioners and vulnerable people. Every single Conservative and Reform MP abstained on the vote.

Sarah Gibson MP said: “Last week I voted to protect vulnerable people and pensioners from the Government’s latest attempt to invade people’s privacy.

“I believe we can stop fraud without undermining dignity, fairness or privacy. Vulnerable people and pensioners deserve protection, not surveillance and suspicion.”

“I was therefore deeply disappointed that not a single Conservative or Reform MP joined me in opposing the Government’s latest power grab. They were simply missing in action.”