Ellie Reeves, the Labour party chair and local MP for Tracie, a disabled woman who took her own life, has refused to answer questions about her death. Tracie’s death was linked to serious failures in the disability benefit system.
In 2019, Tracie had her daily living payment taken away, despite having serious mental health needs. This decision worsened her mental health, leading to a deep depression.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) later admitted their decision was wrong and that Tracie qualified for a higher rate of support. Ellie Reeves referred the case to the ombudsman in 2021 and her office supported Tracie’s husband, Mustapha, for nearly five years.
However, after the ombudsman’s findings were published, Reeves refused to speak about it or answer questions. This is notable because Reeves’ sister, Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, had announced plans to cut PIP spending by £4.5 billion a year by 2029, just days before the ombudsman’s report was sent to Mustapha.
The ombudsman’s report warned that if the planned cuts had gone ahead, people with needs like Tracie’s would not have qualified for PIP at all. Following a chaotic debate in Parliament, the government dropped the planned PIP cuts and will wait for a new review before making any future changes.
Disability campaigners say Tracie’s case shows how dangerous cuts to disability benefits can be and how badly the system has failed disabled people like her. They are concerned about the safety of the PIP system and the impact of potential future changes on vulnerable individuals.
