From Constituent Celebration to Treasury Target
A decade ago, Rachel Reeves stood proudly with a disabled constituent, celebrating what she called the "keys to freedom" provided by the Motability vehicle scheme. Today, as Britain's first female chancellor, she has implemented the only significant welfare cuts in the budget targeting that same programme.
The Motability scheme, which leases approximately 300,000 cars annually to people with mobility problems, found itself at the centre of a political storm that began on social media and ended in Treasury policy. Despite Labour's manifesto promise to put disabled people's "views and voices at the heart of all we do", the changes came without prior consultation with disability groups.
The Social Media Storm That Changed Policy
Late last year, rightwing accounts on Elon Musk's X platform began circulating claims that Motability was providing "free" BMWs and Mercedes to disabled people. This narrative quickly spread to tabloid newspapers and into speeches by prominent Conservative and Reform UK figures.
Kemi Badenoch told the Tory conference she would "restrict Motability vehicles to people with serious disabilities", specifically mentioning ADHD. Meanwhile, Reform's Lee Anderson called the scheme an "absolute scandal" and nostalgically referenced the old "blue three-wheeler" vehicles.
The campaign gained momentum through anonymous social media accounts and websites like Motability Check, which allowed users to identify vehicles potentially linked to the scheme - though experts questioned the accuracy of its data.
From Online Fury to Treasury Action
By October, the Times was reporting that Reeves could save up to £1bn by ending VAT breaks across the Motability scheme. Treasury insiders maintain that civil servants had long identified the programme as needing rebalancing, claiming public perception saw it as unfair for luxury vehicles to receive subsidies.
In the budget, Reeves publicly identified Motability as problematic for the first time, stating it "was set up to protect the most vulnerable, not to subsidise the lease on a Mercedes-Benz".
The final measures included ending £300 million annually in tax breaks, imposing insurance premium tax, and charging VAT on advance payments for higher-value cars. Premium brands will be removed from the scheme entirely.
Disabled Groups Warn of Real-World Consequences
Disability organisations have expressed alarm at both the process and potential impacts. Cat Whitehouse of Transport for All, which coordinated a letter from 40 disability groups, highlighted that many severely disabled users require larger, more solid vehicles to accommodate wheelchair hoists and other adaptations.
"If you're not at the table, you're probably for lunch," Whitehouse noted, criticising the lack of consultation. She warned the changes would make life more expensive and difficult for many disabled people, potentially pricing some out of car ownership entirely.
The government maintains that Motability customers will still be able to lease cars using only their qualifying disability benefit, as some vehicles will remain available without advance payments. They project savings of £1bn over five years.
When questioned about whether rightwing talking points influenced her decision, Reeves told the Guardian: "Not at all. And actually it's been welcomed by people, these changes. We do need to make sure the system works properly and protect the integrity of it."
As the dust settles on the budget, the episode raises questions about how social media campaigns translate into government policy and whose voices truly get heard in Westminster.
