George Freeman MP Apologizes - Anxiety Sufferers Are Not 'Really Disabled' Remark

Heidi Allen MP

The PM's policy chief has apologised after suggesting anxiety sufferers are not 'really disabled' amid a mounting Tory rebellion over benefits cuts.

George Freeman said he 'regretted' causing offence by making the remarks as he defended a shake-up of personal independence payments (PIP).

The climbdown came after the government moved to unwind a series of tribunal decisions that have extended the scope of the benefit.

Heidi Allen has become the first Tory MP to publicly criticise the changes, demanding ministers 'honour' the tribunal rulings and review the entire PIP system.

Tory think tank the Bow Group has also urged a Government rethink.

Mr Freeman provoked fury yesterday as he insisted the Government must ensure benefits only go to the 'most needy'.

He told Pienaar's Politics on BBC Radio 5 Live: 'These tweaks are actually about rolling back some bizarre decisions by tribunals that now mean benefits are being given to people who are taking pills at home, who suffer from anxiety.

'We want to make sure we get the money to the really disabled people who need it.'

Challenged on his assessment of anxiety, Mr Freeman said: 'My point was that these PIP reforms are partly about rolling back some frankly bizarre decisions in tribunals which have seen money that should go to the most disabled spent on people with really much less urgent conditions.'

Amid a welter of criticism, Mr Freeman - head of the No10 policy unit - later insisted he would not be 'lectured' about anxiety because he had suffered from it himself in the past.

But he posted on Twitter today: 'Having experienced myself traumatic anxiety as a child carer living w alcohol I know all too well the pain anxiety + depression causes which is why as a former Health Minister and Policy Adviser I am passionate about supporting Mental Health and Disability, and hugely regret if my comment about the need to prioritise the most 'serious disabilities' inadvertently caused any offence which was not intended.'

Ms Allen told the Today programme: 'In my view, the courts are there for a reason. If they have come up with this ruling, which says that the criteria should be extended, then I believe we have a duty to honour that. That is their role.

Heidi Allen is the first Tory MP to go public in support for the revolt, demanding the Government 'honour' the tribunal rulings. 'Does that mean we should look at the process as a whole? Frankly I think we should do that anyway. It is not fit for purpose at the moment.'

In a message to Ms Mordaunt, she said: 'Don't do it. If I was in her shoes, I would take the financial hit and say we need to accept this.

'Now let's really look at this PIP policy, which is something that needs to happen anyway, and review the whole thing from top to bottom.'

Bow Group Chairman Cllr Ben Harris-Quinney said: 'This is the very behaviour that gives the Conservative Party a bad name, attacking the most in need and kicking people when they are down.' 

Responding to the upper tribunal rulings on Thursday - when attention was on two crucial by-elections - disabilities minister Penny Mordaunt said she was reforming the payments to 'restore the original aim of the benefit' and make sure the most-needy were given support.

Ms Mordaunt said no claimants would see a reduction in the amount of PIP previously awarded.

But Labour said the Government's equality assessment showed 160,000 would miss out on money that was 'rightfully' theirs.