Political opinion: Horsham campaign win for disabled young people locked out of savings

Horsham MP John Milne has welcomed the Government's commitment to legislate through the Financial Services and Markets Bill to help disabled young people access savings held in their Child Trust Funds.

The announcement marks a significant breakthrough for an estimated 80,000 disabled young people across the UK, with more than £210 million held in accounts that they are currently unable to access.

Under existing rules, parents and carers can face a lengthy and expensive application to the Court of Protection to access these funds on behalf of young people who lack the mental capacity to manage their own finances. This has left thousands of families unable to access savings intended to give their children a better start in adult life.

Horsham resident Andrew Turner has spent the past six years campaigning for a change in the law after his son, Mikey, was unable to access his Child Trust Fund. During that time, Andrew has raised the issue with 11 different Justice Ministers, determined to ensure other families do not face the same barriers.

Since being elected in July 2024, John Milne MP has worked closely with Andrew to take the campaign forward, repeatedly raising the issue with Ministers and using parliamentary opportunities to press for reform. In June 2026, John Milne introduced his Ten Minute Rule Bill, the Child Savings Accounts (Mental Capacity and Disability) Bill, seeking to remove the legal barriers preventing disabled young people from accessing their savings.

The Liberal Democrats have also been pressing for change. In the House of Lords, Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Susan Kramer successfully secured an amendment to the Financial Services and Markets Bill, which was passed by 248 votes to 163. The amendment sought to give the Financial Conduct Authority powers to establish a simpler process for releasing funds without families having to obtain a Court of Protection order in every case.

Following sustained parliamentary pressure, the Government has now committed to using the Financial Services and Markets Bill to legislate on the issue.

Liberal Democrat MP for Horsham, John Milne, said: “This is hugely welcome news for the disabled young people and their families who have been waiting far too long for a solution.

“I want to pay particular tribute to Horsham resident Andrew Turner, whose tireless six-year campaign has been instrumental in bringing us to this point. Since being elected, I have worked closely with Andrew, and together we have pressed successive Justice Ministers to find a solution and ensure this issue remains firmly on the agenda.

“I am really pleased that we have now secured a commitment from the Government to bring forward legislation to address this injustice. It will make a real difference to thousands of families, allowing disabled young people to benefit from the savings that belong to them.”

Andrew Turner, local campaigner, said: "This bold move from the government is extremely positive news for thousands of young people who have been locked out of their Child Trust Fund savings. By removing the barriers that make it hard for people to invest in child savings schemes for disabled children, you also create the opportunity to build a stronger financial foundation for their future.

"A simpler process for accessing these savings will release millions of pounds of benefit and help reduce the administrative burden on parents supporting a disabled child. I am extremely grateful to Minister Richards and Minister Rigby for their commitment to solving this long-running issue and look forward to working with them to deliver this much-needed solution."