Labour MPs are rebelling over the Chancellor’s decisions on health and disability benefits are more than 50,000 children and 250,000 adults who are already on the poverty line will be pushed further down by 2030 by losing their much-needed benefits.
Labour MP Debbie Abrahams questioned the Chancellor over the welfare cuts asking how “making people sicker and poorer” will bring the population into the workforce.
Rachel Maskell has strongly urged the government to “look again” at the Chancellor’s multi-billion-pound welfare cuts.
Daisy Cooper, Lib Dems MP asked MPs in the House the “public were promised change, where on earth is it?”
Cooper said that Brits across the UK are “crying out for change” and they are wanting to know where it is.
The Chancellor banged the same old drum that they have “inherited a broken” welfare system as every day more than “1,000 people” are qualifying for personal independence payments (PIP).
Across the UK around one in eight young people are not in education, receiving any form of training or in employment.
The government are expecting they will rake in £4.8 billion in 2029/2030 by making cuts to benefits.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell said, “As a Labour Party we’ve got an additional responsibility around having social responsibility.
“So can we look at the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) changes again? Of course protecting the most vulnerable, but it’s those people just above that band which are set to lose and we’re really worried about those.”
The Chancellor said in response, “I share the deep concern of all of us on this side of the House, I think everyone in the chamber shares the concern about the most sick and disabled who need support, which is why in the green paper we’re consulting on an additional premium payment for the most severely disabled.”
Labour MP Debbie Abrahams told MPs in the House of Commons, “I recognise the difficulties that (Ms Reeves) is facing in terms of fiscal challenges and so on that she inherited and I also support the reforms (Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall) has set out.
“But all the evidence is pointing to the fact that the cuts to health and disability benefits will lead to increased poverty, including severe poverty, and worsened health conditions as well.
“How will making people sicker and poorer help in terms of driving our economy up and people into jobs?”
Reeves told MPs, “In the green paper we’re consulting on a premium payment for the most severely sick and disabled because as a Government we believe that those people need support should get it.
“But like (Ms Abrahams) I recognise that there are many people who are sick and disabled, there are many young people who could be working but were written off by the previous government and that’s why we’re putting record investment in helping getting those people back to work, with guaranteed, personalised and targeted support.
“You’re half as likely to be in poverty if you’re working, if you move from welfare into work and we’re determined to lift people out of poverty by ensuring there are good jobs paying decent wages with a security that’s guaranteed through the Employment Rights Bill.”
