Labour rebels urged to 'stand by their conscience' over welfare cuts

The National

a day ago

The SNP called on backbenchers to reject the welfare cuts despite Keir Starmer's latest U-turn on the policy.
In March, the UK Government announced restricting access to personal independence payments (PIP), the main disability payment, and the sickness-related element of Universal Credit (UC). They said this would save £4.8 billion by 2029-30.
As a result of the changes, an estimated 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, were likely to fall into relative poverty by the end of the decade.
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However, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall made two changes to the Bill after more than 100 Labour backbenchers signed an amendment to halt the legislation.
Kendall said that current PIP recipients would keep their benefits, but new claims from November 2026 would come under tightened eligibility requirements.
She also said those currently receiving the UC health element, as well as new claimants meeting the severe conditions criteria, will have their incomes 'fully protected in real terms'.
The SNP, who also signed the amendment in a bid to stop the legislation, urged rebels not to back down over the concessions.
(Image: PA) Kirsty Blackman MP (above), the SNP work and pensions spokesperson, said the party will continue to 'strongly oppose and vote against' the cuts.
"I urge rebel Labour MPs to stand by their conscience and reject Keir Starmer's disability cuts bill,' she said.
"The Prime Minister's so-called 'concessions' have created a dog's dinner of a system that makes no sense and punishes those who are young or newly disabled.
'They are blatantly discriminatory, of questionable legality, and will see disabled people with the exact same needs treated differently just because of when they were born or became sick, injured or disabled.
"If these Labour Party cuts go ahead, they will embed discrimination into the Westminster welfare system - creating an unfair two-tier system of disability support that will punish younger disabled people and anyone who becomes sick, injured or disabled in future. It's shameful and must be scrapped.
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"The SNP Scottish Government is clear it won't follow these discriminatory two-tier disability cuts.
'Any Labour MP thinking of supporting this bill must explain how they can possibly justify a system that will discriminate against their own constituents - and will treat some disabled people worse than others simply to save Keir Starmer an embarrassing defeat in parliament."
It comes as Scotland's Social Justice Secretary said that Labour's 'two-tier' system will not be replicated north of the border.
Shirley-Anne Somerville criticised the 'backroom late night deal', adding that disabled people had still not been consulted on the plans.