Disabled people being left in limbo following 'chaotic' Commons vote on welfare reforms claims Lanarkshire MSP
Motherwell and Wishaw's MSP slammed Labour MPs for showing 'appalling disregard for sick and disabled people' following a 'chaotic' night in the House of Commons prior to the vote on the Bill for welfare reforms.
The SNP's Clare Adamson claims that the Westminster chaos over Labour's proposed Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill was the result of dismissing disabled people.
The Bill initially proposed to slash eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a move which the government's own analysis showed that 800,000 people would lose support by the end of the decade.
After months of backlash from disability and anti-poverty groups, an eleventh-hour change to the bill threw the vote into 'chaos and confusion', and resulted in The UK Government promising a review of PIP to be concluded by autumn 2026, which Ms Adamson says is leaving disabled people in limbo.
A revolt by Labour MPs led to 49 of them voting against the motion but that number would have been far higher but for the government making a number of eleventh-hour adjustments to gain support for the Bill.
SNP MPs voted against the plans, but only four Labour MPs out of 37 in Scotland eventually voted against the watered-down Bill following a five-hour debate in the House of Commons.
Pamela Nash, MP for Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke, who previously criticised the Tories when they were in government over cuts to disability support, was among those to vote in favour of the Bill.
According to the DWP's own figures the undiluted plans would have driven 250,000 people – including 50,000 children – into poverty.
The bill had initially proposed to slash eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a move which the government's own analysis showed 800,000 people would lose support by the end of the decade.
The Scottish Government committed to shield disabled people from Labour cuts by protecting the Adult Disability Payment, Scotland's equivalent of PIP, from any reductions. Adamson has pointed out that any Labour cuts would have a knock-on impact on Scotland's budget.
Ms Adamson said: 'Labour has shown an appalling disregard for sick and disabled people whose lives will be affected by their plans. I cannot imagine how it felt for a disabled person to watch as their life and livelihood was bartered in real time.
'Shame on the Scottish Labour MPs who did nothing, those who backed the Bill when it would push 250,000 people in poverty, those who backed the 'deal' which would push 150,000 into poverty and create a two-tiered system.
'And then those who sat on their hands amidst the chaos last night. Chaos which was the direct result of Labour's refusal to meaningfully engage with disability groups; the people who said these plans were wrong from the start.
'The SNP Scottish Government confirmed that Scotland would not follow Labour's lead and would protect Adult Disability Payments. But the message being sent at Westminster matters - as do the spending implications for Scotland.
'These changes were going to be made before a review even took place. That is no way to run a country. Keir Starmer rushed through a deal in order to save his skin. It's indefensible.
'This saga has been characterised by cruelty, at worst, and indifference at best, for the real people affected. Sick and disabled people have been sidelined and now Labour MPs have voted to continue the uncertainty.
'It's time for meaningful engagement with the people affected by these proposals. That should have been done in the first place. This Labour administration is unfit to govern and Scottish Labour MPs showed they are not at the decision table.
'The SNP will always stand up for Scotland. And with the limited powers available to the Scottish Parliament, we will protect sick and disabled people in Motherwell and Wishaw, and across the country. But we need independence to be free of this for good.'
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