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Welfare reform

Starmer Faces Biggest Rebellion as Scottish MPs Rebel Against Disability Cuts

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Sir Keir Starmer is facing his toughest challenge yet as around 50 MPs, including several Scottish Labour MPs, prepare to reject his proposed welfare reform Bill. The Bill, which aims to cut £5 billion from disability benefits by 2030, has sparked widespread opposition, with more than 120 MPs signing a reasoned amendment to stop the Bill's progress. Despite the Prime Minister's climbdown on initial proposals to cut existing claimants, a second amendment to reject the Bill has been put forward by Rachael Maskell MP, with 39 Labour backbenchers and 24 MPs from other parties supporting it.

Key Takeaways:

  • Around 50 MPs, including several Scottish Labour MPs, are expected to reject Sir Keir Starmer's proposed welfare reform Bill.
  • The Bill aims to cut £5 billion from disability benefits by 2030, which could see 150,000 people pushed into poverty within five years.
  • The Scottish Government's adult disability benefit, Personal Independence Payments, would be affected by any cuts made at the UK level.
  • 120+ MPs have signed a reasoned amendment to stop the Bill's progress.
  • Sir Keir Starmer has conceded that the cuts will only apply to new claimants from November 2026.
  • 39 Labour backbenchers, including Scottish MPs Brian Leishman and Maureen Burke, have signed Rachael Maskell's amendment.
  • 9 Scottish Labour MPs who opposed the original Bill have not signed the new amendment.
  • 24 MPs from other parties, including all 9 SNP MPs, have backed Rachael Maskell's amendment.
  • The Lib Dems have proposed their own reasoned amendment to try and block the government's Bill from passing.

Statistics:

  • 150,000 people could be pushed into poverty within five years if the Bill's proposed cuts are implemented.
  • £5 billion: the amount of money the UK government hopes to save by cutting disability benefits by 2030.
  • 120+: the number of MPs who have signed a reasoned amendment to stop the Bill's progress.
  • 39: the number of Labour backbenchers who have signed Rachael Maskell's amendment.
  • 24: the number of MPs from other parties who have backed Rachael Maskell's amendment.
  • 9: the number of SNP MPs who have signed the amendment.

Sources:

  • The Scotsman: "Disabled people should not bear the brunt of the challenges our country faces" (/read-this/disabled-people-shouldnt-bear-the-brunt-of-the-challenges-our-country-faces-5036258)
  • The Steamie: "Sir Keir Starmer faces biggest rebellion since taking office as Scottish MPs rebel against disability cuts" (/news/politics/scottish-labour-mp-lays-into-keir-starmers-race-to-the-bottom-as-welfare-cuts-pressure-mounts-5199848)
  • The Scotsman: "UK welfare cuts: The 9 Scottish Labour MPs set to rebel against Sir Keir Starmer's government" (/news/politics/uk-welfare-cuts-the-9-scottish-labour-mps-set-to-rebel-against-sir-keir-starmers-government-5191158)
  • The Scotsman: "Welfare cuts: SNP accuse Sir Keir Starmer of creating two-tier disability system with U-turn" (/news/politics/welfare-cuts-snp-accuse-sir-keir-starmer-of-creating-two-tier-disability-system-with-u-turn-5197630)
  • The Liberal Democrats: "Reasoned amendment to block the government's Bill from passing" (private communication)

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