Labour MPs Rebel Against Government's Disability Benefit Cuts

Strategic Insights -

Labour MPs have signed a Commons amendment, threatening Sir Keir Starmer's majority, in a bid to halt drastic cuts to disability benefits that could push thousands of families into poverty. The amendment, signed by 108 MPs, including the chairwoman of the work and pensions select committee, Debbie Abrahams, and several Labour select committee chairs, would decline to give the welfare reform Bill a second reading when it returns to the Commons on July 1. The MPs argue that the cuts, which would limit eligibility for the personal independence payment (PIP) and the sickness-related element of Universal Credit (UC), would have a devastating impact on disabled people, with 250,000 people estimated to be pushed into poverty, including 50,000 children.

Key Takeaways:

  • 108 Labour MPs have signed a Commons amendment to halt drastic cuts to disability benefits, threatening Sir Keir Starmer's majority.
  • The amendment would decline to give the welfare reform Bill a second reading when it returns to the Commons on July 1.
  • The cuts would limit eligibility for the personal independence payment (PIP) and the sickness-related element of Universal Credit (UC), affecting 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, and potentially pushing them into poverty.
  • Several Labour select committee chairs, including Debbie Abrahams, chairwoman of the work and pensions select committee, and Dame Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the Treasury committee, have signed the amendment.
  • There has been no formal consultation with disabled people who will be impacted by the changes, despite the Office for Budget Responsibility's analysis of the impact of the reforms on employment not being published until the autumn.
  • The MPs argue that the cuts are being pushed through without adequate consideration for the impact on disabled people and without sufficient time to allow key policies, such as the right to try and work coaching, to have been shown to be effective.

Statistics:

  • 108 Labour MPs signed the Commons amendment.
  • 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, could be pushed into poverty as a result of the cuts.
  • £5 billion could be saved per year under the proposals.
  • The Office for Budget Responsibility will publish its analysis of the impact of the reforms on employment in the autumn.

Sources:

  • Steve Witherden MP (@switherdenMP) June 18, 2025, twitter.com/LY6tY5mF1S
  • Pickle (@FlopsyPickle) June 24, 2025, twitter.com/c4jNwTBTYV
  • (multipleLabour MPs and news outlets)