The Cross Party Group for Social Work is formed of MPs and Peers and will provide a forum for UK parliamentarians to discuss the importance of social work in our society and to champion the role of social workers.
There are 120,000 social workers working to provide vital services and support to people across the UK. Like all professionals, social workers need the right context and resources to do their job, ongoing support, and development opportunities. This keeps people safe and enables safe working practices.
We are pleased to announce that Ian Byrne MP will chair this group and the secretariat will be provided jointly by the Social Workers Union (SWU) and the British Association of Social Workers (BASW).
The purpose of the Cross Party Group is to create a forum whereby the views, ideas, and experiences of frontline social work can be directly heard and understood by policy-makers. It will serve as an effective mechanism for relaying the challenges and areas needed for improvement across everyday social work practice to those in parliament who can effect change.
Initially, the group will focus on three main areas:
- Workforce – working conditions, recruitment and retention, sharing findings of research
- Anti-poverty – prioritising issues such as removing the two-child benefit cap
- Social care reform – Casey Commission (Independent Commission on Adult Social Care), private sector funding, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Who we are
Ian Byrne MP, Chair
Labour Party
Photo is ©House of Commons
The Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
Green Party
Photo is ©House of Commons / photography by Laurie Noble
Cat Smith MP
Labour Party
Photo is ©House of Commons
Dr. Simon Opher MBE MP
Labour Party
Photo is ©House of Commons / photography by Roger Harris
Preet Kaur Gill MP
Labour Party
Photo is ©House of Commons
Dawn Butler MP
Labour Party
Photo is ©House of Commons
Kim Johnson MP
Labour Party
Photo is ©House of Commons
Siân Berry MP
Green Party
Photo is ©House of Commons
Ian Lavery MP
Labour Party
Photo is ©House of Commons / photography by Laurie Noble
The Rt Hon. Baroness Hughes of Stretford
Labour Party
Emma Lewell MP
Labour Party
Photo is ©House of Commons
Chris Webb MP
Labour Party
Photo is ©House of Commons
Rachael Maskell MP
Independent
Photo is ©House of Commons / photography by Roger Harris
Martin Vickers MP
Conservative Party
Photo is ©House of Commons / photography by Laurie Noble
The Lord Watson of Invergowrie
Labour Party
Photo is © House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris
Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP
Conservative Party
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The Baroness Lister of Burtersett CBE
Labour Party
Photo is © House of Lords / photography by Roger Harris
The Rt Hon John McDonnell
Labour Party
Photo is © House of Commons
Meetings
The Cross Party Group for Social Work will be launched on October 21st, 2025 in the House of Commons.
At the launch, SWU and BASW will introduce MPs and Peers to the “Stronger Social Work, Better Lives” campaign to improve professional working conditions for social workers across the UK.
Secretariat
The Social Workers Union (SWU) is the only specialist trade union for UK social workers and is run by people qualified in social work.
SWU is a member of the General Federation of Trade Unions.
Our mission is:
- Improved working conditions, professional support, and recognition for social workers.
- Better resources for the people who use social work services.
- A fairer society, supporting human rights and social justice worldwide.
SWU and BASW work together in partnership to support the social work profession and to protect and promote the rights of people who need to or who access social work services.
SWU campaigns on issues including:
- Social workers’ working conditions
- Support for social work students
- Poverty
- Austerity
- Housing conditions
- Food insecurity
- Mental health support
- Sustainability
We also support our social worker members to campaign on issues they are passionate about.
The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) is the UK’s largest independent professional membership organisation for social work. We have 21K members across the UK.
We act for social workers
Supporting, protecting and inspiring social workers in all roles, and the next generations of professionals.
We act for social work
Developing professional ethics, practice, knowledge, research and learning.
We act for a better society
Speaking out for social work and social workers on social justice, equality, poverty, human rights, oppression and other vital social issues in the UK and internationally.
We campaign on the issues that matter in social work today:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Social Work
- BASW in Westminster & devolved nations
- Relationship-based practice
- Social Work Stands Against Poverty
- UK Covid Inquiry
- Professional working conditions
- Housing & Homelessness
With thanks to Campaign Collective for working with us to establish the group.