Scots charity says Labour welfare cuts will 'rip gaping holes' in support for vulnerable
A top Scottish charity has dismissed Keir Starmer's concessions on his welfare cuts bill as 'nowhere near enough'.
Citizens Advice Scotland said the decision to exempt existing claimants only from tougher eligibility rules creates a 'two tier' system.
The Labour Government was under huge pressure over plans to slash around £5bn from the disability and sickness benefits bill.
But Ministers made a late-night climbdown ahead of Tuesday's vote by watering down the cuts package.
All current Personal Independent Payment recipients - a benefit devolved to Holyrood - will not now be affected by the crackdown.
New claims from November 2026 will come under the tightened rule regime.
The concessions are expected to head off a major rebellion by Labour MPs, but CAS hit out at the revised plan.
CAS spokesperson Emma Jackson said: 'The concessions that have been reported are nowhere near enough. Creating a two-tier system is highly problematic. It seems the UK Government's message is: you're ok if you are disabled today, but good luck if you become disabled tomorrow.
'Furthermore, it appears none of the issues that the reforms risk for people in Scotland have been addressed, like guaranteeing the passporting capacity of the adult disability payment. Without this huge uncertainty exists.
'Social security is an investment in all of us that should act as both a safety net and springboard; enabling people to realise their potential and providing support during the challenges of life that any of us could experience.
'These reforms will rip gaping holes into the system that so many depend on. In a just and compassionate society, we cannot allow this to happen. We urge the UK Government to halt these reforms altogether and engage with meaningful consultation and co-design with disabled people.'
Over 100 Labour MPs, including 12 from Scotland, had signed up to an amendment to the welfare bill that would have wrecked the entire package.
Asked whether he was confident the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill would now pass, health minister Stephen Kinnock told Times Radio: 'Yes.'
One of the MP rebels, Dame Meg Hillier, appeared satisfied with the compromise: 'This is a positive outcome that has seen the Government listen and engage with the concerns of Labour MPs and their constituents.
'It's encouraging that we have reached what I believe is a workable compromise that will protect disabled people and support people back into work while ensuring the welfare system can be meaningfully reformed. This means that disabled people currently in receipt of Pip and the health element of universal credit will continue to receive the same level of support.'
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall: 'I hope these changes will mean we get support for our Bill, a Bill that wants to ensure fairness in the welfare system for people who really need support. It's really important that we make changes in the future so the welfare state is there for people who really, really need it.'
She said of claims about a ' two tier ' system: 'Well the changes that we are introducing will make sure existing claimants are unaffected, but we also all agree that there do need to be changes in the future to make sure that people who can work do, so we protect those who can't but we make the welfare state sustainable for the future.'
SNP Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 'The changes now being proposed by the UK Government would create a two-tier system, which cannot be fair.
'And this half U-turn still does not scrap the rule which will deny Personal Independence Payment to people unless they score four points or more for at least one activity. This will prevent support for hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities in the future.
'These reforms have been shambolic from the start. They will be hugely damaging to those who rely on social security support, and still seek to balance the books by targeting the most vulnerable.'
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