The Disability Benefit Cuts Bill has been published.
Labour MPs are deeply divided, with a significant faction opposing the Disability Benefit Cuts Bill due to its potential to exacerbate poverty and harm vulnerable constituents.
Over 40 Labour MPs, spanning both new and veteran members from various ideological factions, have publicly opposed the bill. A letter signed by 42 MPs, addressed to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, described the proposed cuts as “impossible to support” and called for a pause and change in direction. The MPs warned that the cuts, estimated at over £7 billion, represent the “biggest attack on the welfare state since George Osborne’s austerity measures,” affecting over three million of the poorest and most disadvantaged people.
Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby, Ian Bryne today posted to X:
This bill will bring forward the most devastating cuts to disability benefits on record.
The government's own impact assessment report says 250,000 people could be pushed into poverty.
This bill if passed will be a stain on the Labour Party for years to come.
I urge Labour MPs to reject it at 2nd reading.
-- Ian Byrne MP, June 18, 2025
Labour MP for Hayes & Harlington and Former Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, also posted his thoughts to X:
Despite all the concerns expressed by organisations & charities representing disabled people & Labour MPs & trade unions the government has gone ahead & published its Bill to cut disability benefits. There seems to be nobody in government that has a clue how disastrous this is.
John McDonnell MP, June 18, 2025
Neil Duncan-Jordan, Labour MP for Poole, also posted to X:
The Disability Benefit Cuts Bill has been published.
On average PIP recipients will lose £4,500 a year.
These are the deepest cuts to disability benefits since George Osborne - impacting 3 million people.
This won't create jobs, it will create poverty.
MPs must vote against.
Neil Duncan-Jordan MP, June 18, 2025
Labour MP for Bradford East, Imran Hussain, has also vowed to vote against the bill, posting to X:
I won’t vote for PIP cuts. Full stop.
Imran Hussain MP, June 18, 2025
https://twitter.com/IanByrneMP/status/1935368800649757014
https://twitter.com/johnmcdonnellMP/status/1935413785436496274
https://twitter.com/NeilForPoole/status/1935365786744324245
https://twitter.com/Imran_HussainMP/status/1935398466714259742
