BY JACK WELCH

THEY say a week is a long time in politics.

In a matter of days, just after Chancellor George Osborne’s first Budget of 2016, official announcements have been made by the government this week to scrap proposals that were announced in his speech to the House of Commons.

One of the most publicised reversals revolved around the changes which were due to be made to the Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

These payments provide disabled people over the age of 16 an allowance from the government to support their living costs based upon their condition.

The disability charity Scope highlighted in 2014 that, on average, disabled people spend up to £550 a month on extra costs alone.

This is less than the PIP rate most people receive.

While many will debate the right criteria for people to qualify to receive benefits like PIP, it will be a welcome relief for many people of all ages that the possibility of not meeting altered thresholds in their regular needs has been stopped in its tracks.

The reversal on this policy was ultimately sealed by the resignation of Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith, but the effects of people power and how pressure can sway the direction of big decisions should not be undersold.

As a result of this, and the reduction to one strand of the Employment Support Allowance (ESA), people have been able to see across all facets of the news media the challenges which disabled people face every day.

The coverage also highlighted how errors made within the government’s budget need to be challenged.

An online government petition to reverse the ESA cut from 2017 received over 130,000 signatures alone, demonstrating that democracy is alive and well.

People, despite the spread of voter apathy, want to have their say on issues which can completely change the lives of those most vulnerable in society.

There will be many young people with lifelong conditions, who may want to claim these benefits themselves in the future, who have been defended by those outside Westminster.

They will be better off as a result.