Labour MPs are increasingly voicing concerns over the government’s planned cuts to the benefits system, with details expected to be announced next week. The reforms, described as “radical welfare reforms,” aim to address what the government calls a “broken benefits system.” Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has criticized the current system for being overly simplistic, categorizing people as either “fit for work” or “not fit for work,” and locking millions out of employment. She has labeled the system “dysfunctional” and pledged to overhaul it to better support those who want to work.
Kendall stated that the current Work Capability Assessment, which determines if someone is fit to work, forces people who want to work “into a life on benefits.” She emphasized that the government is committed to fixing the system, unlocking job opportunities, and improving living standards while ensuring the welfare bill remains sustainable. The reforms are expected to include changes to the Work Capability Assessment and other measures to help people access employment support.
However, the planned cuts have sparked backlash, particularly from Labour MPs and disability advocates. The government is expected to save £5 billion by tightening eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), which help disabled people cover additional living costs. PIP payments are likely to be frozen next year, and there may be changes to Universal Credit rates, with increases for those actively seeking work and reductions for those deemed unfit to work.
The Department for Work and Pensions has highlighted that 1.8 million people are now considered too sick to work, a number that has nearly quadrupled since the start of the pandemic. These individuals receive Universal Credit but are not provided with employment support, leaving them trapped in the system. Critics argue that the proposed cuts will disproportionately affect disabled people and those with long-term health conditions, pushing many further into poverty.
As details of the cuts emerge, Labour MPs are becoming more vocal in their opposition. Over 400 Labour MPs were invited to “welfare roundtables” at Downing Street this week, where concerns about the impact of the reforms were raised. Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced questions from MPs, including Richard Burgon, who urged him to make the “moral” choice by introducing a wealth tax instead of cutting benefits for vulnerable people. Starmer acknowledged the need to “protect those who need protecting” but also stressed that there is no “bottomless pit” of funding.
MPs like Nadia Whittome have expressed personal frustration with the proposed cuts, arguing that the government should target wealth inequality rather than burdening disabled people who have already suffered from years of austerity. Whittome stated that she “can’t look her mum in the eye and support this,” highlighting the emotional and ethical dilemmas faced by MPs as they grapple with the reforms.
The controversy comes ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s spring statement on March 26, where she is expected to announce billions of pounds in spending cuts to address a £9.9 billion budget shortfall. While the government argues that the reforms are necessary to create a more sustainable welfare system, critics warn that the cuts will harm the most vulnerable and deepen inequality.
What do you think? Should the government prioritize reforming the welfare system to support people into work, or should it focus on protecting disability benefits and exploring alternative solutions like a wealth tax? Share your thoughts!
