One of the messages on the clocktower at St Pancras Station in Keir Starmer’s constituency said ‘Tax The Super Rich Instead’ while another added ‘Being Sick Or Disabled Isn’t A Choice’
Campaigners against planned disability cuts have projected messages on a key landmark in Keir Starmer’s London constituency.
One of them on the clocktower at St Pancras Station said “Tax The Super Rich Instead” while another added “Being Sick Or Disabled Isn’t A Choice”. The campaign group 38 Degrees, who organised the stunt on Wednesday evening, said it was sending the Prime Minister a message he cannot ignore.
It comes after the government unveiled around £5billion in cuts to disability benefits in March – largely by restricting eligibility to Personal Independence Payments (PIP).
Charities have expressed alarm at the changes which could lose to hundreds of thousands of people losing eligibility to the key disability benefit. CEO of the campaign group 38 Degrees, Matthew McGregor, described the cuts as “heartless” and said sick and disabled people across the country “are terrified”.
“None of us know when we might need a safety net, so it’s no wonder that hundreds of thousands of people have spoken out against these plans, and thousands more have chipped in to bring a message to Holborn and St Pancras that Keir Starmer can’t ignore: stop these cruel cuts, protect the sick and vulnerable, and tax the super rich instead,” he said.
The PM is also facing the biggest revolt of his premiership so far when the reforms to PIP are voted on in the Commons in June. Over 100 Labour MPs have written to the Chief Whip saying they cannot support the measures and have urged the government to pause.
They have expressed concern over an official government analysis suggesting the reforms could result in extra 250,000 – including 50,000 kids – falling into poverty.
And just last week the cross-party Work and Pensions Committee – led by the senior Labour MP Debbie Abrahams – also wrote to the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall urging her to delay the reforms. They said MPs are being asked to vote on the changes “without the benefit of a full impact assessment” and costing from the economic watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility.
But speaking to The Mirror, Ms Kendall said: “I understand people’s concern and I understand people are anxious. But we are consulting with disabled people and the organisations that represent them on our PIP review, to look at the assessment process. I believe the task of helping people who can work, get work, is urgent.”
She added: “I am listening. I have great respect for Debbie Abrahams and members of the Committee. I am talking in detail with MPs… we want to get this right. I think the task of overhauling the system that has written off and denied people support for too long – there has been failure of the last government to deal with these problems – and I want to make a start.”
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