Over 40 Labour MPs have informed the Prime Minister of their intention to remove barriers, calling for a pause and a shift in policy direction.
The letters from both new and veteran lawmakers, spanning various factions within the party, suggest a significant challenge when the House votes on the upcoming measures next month.
There’s considerable apprehension among Labour members regarding proposed changes, especially a considerable boost in eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), which could save around £5 billion annually.
This also includes cuts or freezes on payments for individuals applying for universal credit but deemed unfit for work.
According to forecasts from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), these planned reductions in disability benefits might impact 700,000 families already struggling with poverty.
A vote on the proposal is anticipated in June, and many MPs are worried they might be asked to back the plan without a complete understanding of its consequences. As of now, 42 Labour MPs have signed the letter, suggesting that the government could face a substantial rebellion.
The proposals outlined in the government’s green paper have caused considerable worry among disabled individuals and their families, as stated in the letter.
“The cuts amounting to over £7 billion represent one of the most significant assaults on the welfare state since George Osborne’s tenure during austerity, affecting over 3 million of the most vulnerable,” the letter asserts.
While the government may have identified issues within a failing benefits system and employment obstacles, the proposed solutions seem misguided.
The letter urges the Minister to delay any decisions until a thorough impact assessment of the cuts is conducted and to engage in meaningful dialogue with disabled organizations to address barriers faced by disabled individuals seeking and maintaining jobs, aiming for a simpler, more supportive redesign.
“We need to focus on creating job opportunities and ensuring robust legal protections against discrimination. Without a change in direction, it’s impossible to back the green paper,” the letter emphasizes.
Signatories include several left-leaning lawmakers like Diane Abbott and Kim Johnson, but also some central members from the 2024 intake like Terry Jermey, Peter Lamb, Simon Offer, Lorraine Bieber, and others.
The profit changes introduced by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall in March aim to tighten PIP eligibility, requiring individuals to score at least four points in one activity to receive daily living subsidies.
Furthermore, from April 2026, the universal credit base rate for those working or seeking employment will increase by about £15 weekly, but benefits for new claimants deemed unfit for work will be reduced, and support for current claimants will be frozen.
Individuals under 22 are seeking a health top-up with Universal Credits.
Kendall mentioned that her department would provide up to £1 billion annually to assist people in finding work.
When the plan was introduced, Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, who chairs the Commons Work and Pensions Committee, cautioned against “balancing the budget on the backs of those with illnesses and disabilities.”
Many individual backbenchers have raised serious concerns regarding the proposal, but the letter conveys the magnitude of these worries, suggesting that even as they hesitate to fully reject the plan, the likelihood of voting against it remains high.
So far, the Sterme government has faced only minor rebellions in the Commons.
After the July general election, Downing Street experienced a setback when seven MPs voted alongside the Scottish National Party’s amendment to eliminate restrictions on child benefits for siblings.
A source from the DWP stated, “At the core of these reforms is a commitment to help more individuals secure employment. They acknowledge the concerns being raised. The Secretary of State is consulting with colleagues to explain how these reforms can positively impact lives.”
