In a letter the group of 42 MPs said the planned cuts to disability benefits represent the ‘biggest attack on the welfare state since George Osborne ushered in the years of austerity’
Keir Starmer has been warned by over 40 Labour MPs planned welfare cuts are “impossible to support”.
The £5billion in cuts, proposed in March, would see a tightening of eligibility criteria for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – a key disability benefit. But in a letter the group of 42 MPs said it represents the “biggest attack on the welfare state since George Osborne ushered in the years of austerity”.
They warned the proposals had “caused a huge amount of anxiety and concern among disabled people and their families” and called for a delay. They added: “Without a change in direction, the green paper will be impossible to support.”
The Mirror understands a separate letter could also go to the PM and the Chief Whip in the coming days – highlighting the scale of upset among Labour MPs. It means Mr Starmer could face the biggest revolt of his leadership so far next month when MPs are set to vote on cuts to PIP benefits.
Labour MP Steve Witherden, who signed today’s letter, told The Mirror: “My constituents voted for a fresh start, not a fresh round of austerity. The cuts will hit Wales particularly hard and they will hit my constituents particularly hard too. I cannot conscionably support the stripping of benefits from the country’s most vulnerable to satisfy some arbitrary fiscal rules, especially when other choices exist.
“The alternatives to austerity are open to us. If the choice is between properly taxing extreme wealth or pushing disabled people further into poverty, it seems clear to me what the government should do.”
Jen Clark, economic, social and cultural rights lead at Amnesty International UK said: “By taking a stand against these deliberately retrogressive and discriminatory cuts, these MPs are not just standing up for their constituents who are impacted, they are standing up for the principle that social security is a human right.
“No government should try to justify further impoverishing people because they wish to balance the books. There are other choices available that don’t target those already struggling to put food on the table.”
A DWP source said: “At the heart of these reforms is a determination to help more people into work. We understand that there are concerns. The Secretary of State is engaging and talking to colleagues, explaining why these reforms will help transform people’s lives.”
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