Mencap response to ESA Cut debate – MPs vote 127- 0 to postpone controversial cuts to ESA following warnings from the disability community.
Following a debate in Parliament on Thursday 17th November, MPs have overwhelmingly voted to postpone a £30 weekly cut to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit (UC). Mencap believe this should now be reversed in the Autumn Statement.
This vote follows over a year of warnings from the disability community and MPs alike and an open letter from over 70 disability charities voicing concern at the devastating affects a £30 weekly cut to ESA and UC would have to people with a disability.
Rob Holland, Mencap Parliamentary Manager said:
“We are delighted to see that MPs from across all political parties have listened to concerns from disabled people and voted to postpone the £30 weekly cuts to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit and look again at their impact, with 127 votes to 0. The call for this cut to be reversed in the Autumn Statement is growing stronger and stronger.
“For over a year the disability community together with MPs from across all parties have been warning of the disastrous affect that a cut to ESA would have on the lives of disabled peoples and their families; over a quarter of whom already struggle to afford food on the amount they currently receive.
“Disabled people have seen their support reduced from all angles with cuts to their benefits and a collapsing social care sector. Today’s vote while not binding is hugely encouraging, and we hope that the Government takes on board the strength of feeling from people with a learning disability.
“We now urge the Government to use this second chance to focus on ensuring that people with a learning disability get the personalised support they need so they have the same opportunities as everyone else to get onto Apprenticeships and into work where appropriate.”