By Rab Bruce’s Spider

Some people might take comfort from the UK Government’s announcement that, following cancellation of the cuts to Disability Benefits which were revealed in George Osborne’s disastrous Budget, they have no plans to reintroduce these cuts at a later date.

But should we take this reassurance lightly? A quick Google search suggests we shouldn’t be too surprised if the cuts to PIP are soon back on the Tory agenda.

For example, the Tories had no plans to:-

cut child Benefit but did it anyway;

raise VAT but did it anyway;

sell off Channel 4 but now say they are considering it;

allow fracking in National Parks in England & Wales but passed legislation permitting this anyway;

privatise the NHS in England but are doing it by stealth anyway;

introduce extensive spending cuts if elected to Government and we all know how that has turned out;

cut Pensioners’ Winter Fuel Allowance then did it anyway;

impose a top-down reorganisation of the NHS in England but did it anyway.

Scrap Educational Maintenance Allowance, then did it anyway.

Now, politicians are often required to adapt their policies in light of changing circumstances but, with a track record like that, it seems the Tories adapt their policies more in line with when they think they can get away with something rather than when circumstances require a rethink. So, cynical as this may sound, don’t be too surprised if cuts to PIP payments reappear in a slightly amended form at some point in the next few months.