Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Autumn Budget has sparked controversy with her repeated use of the phrase “working people.” While this terminology may seem inclusive, it fails to acknowledge the reality that many disabled people, including those on PIP, are also in employment. Stripy Lightbulb CIC, a community interest company advocating for those with M.E./C.F.S, challenges the government’s continued use of labels such as “economically inactive” for this community. They argue that every individual contributes to the economy through spending, consumption, and participation in society.
In her budget speech, Reeves announced Universal Credit reforms that she claims will bring 15,000 people back into work. However, Stripy Lightbulb CIC argues that investing in biomedical research for M.E./C.F.S could have a far greater impact, potentially enabling hundreds of thousands to regain their health and return to employment.
Sally Callow, Managing Director of Stripy Lightbulb CIC, states: “Talented and highly skilled people are being forced to watch from the sidelines after M.E./C.F.S has taken them out of the workforce. Without treatments or a cure, they have no realistic hope of returning to employment, and that is a loss both to them and to the wider economy.”
The organization also calls attention to the inefficiencies and waste within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). They argue that the DWP’s convoluted and burdensome processes discourage people from accessing the support they need. Stripy Lightbulb CIC believes that if the government is serious about cutting costs, they should start by streamlining their own systems.
Their message is clear: stop dismissing disabled and chronically sick communities as “inactive,” invest in research to unlock long-term workforce participation, and reform the DWP to deliver efficiency and fairness. Stripy Lightbulb CIC urges the government to adopt a genuine long-term strategy for disabled and chronically sick communities, one that recognizes everyone’s contribution to the economy and creates real pathways back to work.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.