The veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott told Keir Starmer there was ‘nothing moral’ about slashing welfare payments for up to a million people with an overhaul of PIP benefits
Diane Abbott hits out at Government over benefit cuts
Diane Abbott has accused the government of balancing the country’s books on the backs of the poorest with massive cuts to benefits.
The veteran Labour MP told Keir Starmer there was “nothing moral” about slashing welfare payments for up to a million people. It comes after the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall outlined plans to cut £5billion from sickness and disability benefits in a major statement on Tuesday.
She said the government will tighten eligibility for a key disability benefit – Personal Independence Payments (PIP) – as she warned the system was broken. The PM has argued that there is a “moral” and economic case for reforming the system the government claims is holding the country back.
But in a scathing response at PMQs on Wednesday, Ms Abbott said: “Could we have less of this rhetoric about this £5billion package of disability benefits so-called reform being ‘moral’.
She added: “There is nothing moral about cutting benefits for what may be up to a million people. This is not about morality, this is about the Treasury’s wish to balance the country’s books on the back of the most vulnerable people and poor people in this society”.
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But Mr Starmer replied: “The current system is broken. This is where I disagree with her. I think one in eight young people are not in employment, education, or training… I think that’s a moral issue.”
During PMQs the SDLP MP Colum Eastwood also asked Mr Starmer “what was the point” of ending 14 years of Tory rule after the government unveiled cuts to benefits.
He told the Commons: “A lady came to see me recently who needed help. She had a disability. It meant that her children had to help her cut up her food. They have to help her wash beneath her waist. They have to supervise her as she goes to the toilet.
“Under the Tory welfare system we were able to get that lady on PIP, under the Prime Minister’s new proposed system, she will get zero, nothing.
“And after 14 years of the Tory government – and many of us wanted to see the back of them – can the Prime Minister answer one question – what was the point if Labour are going to do this?”
Mr Starmer replied: “I’ve lived with the impact of disability in our family through my mother and brother all my life, I do understand the human impact of this but the current system is morally and economically indefensible and we’re right to reform it.
“And nobody should be defending the broken status quo. We are proceeding on three principles: that if you can work, you should work; if you need help into work, the state should help you not hinder you; and, if you can never work, you must be supported and protected.”
It came as another Labour MP – Richard Burgon – posted on X the government faces “the mother of all rebellions” unless the “cruel” plans are dropped.
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