108 Labour MPs Rebel to Halt Devastating Disability Benefits Cuts

News
Labour MPs have launched a significant rebellion against the Government’s Green Paper disability benefit cuts with an amendment that could kill its welfare bill, spearheaded by senior select committee chairs.

The amendment – which has been signed by 108 MPs – declines to pass the Government’s welfare changes and calls for a pause, including for further consultation and for support to be in place before any further cuts are made. 

The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill is due to have its Second Reading in the Commons on 1 July. 

The amendment has been sponsored by: 

  • Treasury Committee chair Dame Meg Hillier; 
  • Work and Pensions Committee Chair Debbie Abrahams; 
  • Education Committee chair Helen Hayes; 
  • Women and Equalities Committee chair Sarah Owen; and 
  • Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee chair Florence Eshalomi. 

It has also been signed by former cabinet minister Louise Haigh and Vicky Foxcroft, who quit as a Labour whip due to Bill’s disability benefit cuts package 

The amendment motion reads: 

“That this House, whilst noting the need for the reform of the social security system, and agreeing with the Government’s principles for providing support to people into work and protecting people who cannot work, declines to give a Second Reading to the Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill because its provisions - 

  • have not been subject to a formal consultation with Disabled people, or co-produced with them, or their carers;  
  • because the Office for Budget Responsibility is not due to publish its analysis of the employment impact of these reforms until the autumn of 2025;  
  • because the majority of the additional employment support funding will not be in place until the end of the decade;  
  • because the Government’s own impact assessment estimates that 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty as a result of these provisions, including 50,000 children;  
  • because the Government has not published an assessment of the impact of these reforms on health or care needs; 
  • because the Government is still awaiting the findings of the Minister for Social Security and Disability’s review into the assessment for Personal Independence Payment and Sir Charlie Mayfield’s independent review into the role of employers and Government in boosting the employment of disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.” 

Posting on Bluesky, Debbie Abrahams MP said: 

“I've signed this as I believe there are alternative ways we can achieve the Government’s goals of increasing employment while reducing sickness and disability cases, therefore reducing overall disability benefits spending. 

This can be achieved through improvements in the Labour market, alongside increases in NHS and employment support. Not by impoverishing Disabled people and their families further from next April by cutting their benefits before all these measures are in place.” 

The amendment would need to be selected by the speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, be voted on.  

The rebellion by so many Labour MPs, the Prime Minister’s largest yet, would be enough to defeat the Government’s plans if opposition MPs joined the Labour rebels. 

Mikey Erhardt DR UK Policy Officer said: “Despite promising a consultative process, the Government is trying to force through a vote on proposals it won’t even share detailed information about. With so many clear unknowns, we don’t think any MP could vote for these cuts with a clear conscience.   

Rather than delivering change, this government is attempting to implement cuts that are even more severe than those of the austerity years. Yet again, Disabled and working-class people who need support are being told you are the problem, you don’t deserve support.” 

DR UK's Statement on Government's Proposed Benefits Cuts 

Disability Rights UK is shocked and appalled at the Government’s intended cuts to the benefits that Disabled people rely upon. Narrowing eligibility for Personal Independence Payment and reducing the health component of Universal Credit, will drive millions of Disabled people into even deeper poverty. 

The Government is demonising and punishing Disabled people for the economic failures of successive governments. Why isn’t it looking to the rich, to plug its funding gap? 

This is a very distressing time for Disabled people who could be impacted by the proposed changes. We will do everything we can to fight them and as part of the Disabled people’s movement, will make our voices heard. 

DR UK urges Disabled people to Take Action To Oppose The Disability Benefits Cuts! - Sign The Petition, Write To Your MP 

See our related news stories: 

  • APPG Findings: Benefit Cuts Will Worsen Disability Poverty