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A reasoned amendment to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, due to have its Second Reading in the House of Commons next week, has been signed by over 120 Labour MPs, and the number is still rising.
The amendment would need to be selected by the speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, before it could be voted on, but if opposition parties joined all those who signed it, the number would be enough to defeat the government.
Tabled yesterday, the amendment states that this House declines to give a Second Reading to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill because:
- It fails to provide a fair and compassionate approach to reforming disability benefits.
- It is not accompanied by a credible strategy for ensuring that people with disabilities who are able to work receive personalised and effective support into employment.
- It does not include measures developed with people with disabilities and carers, or informed by robust evidence and consultation.
- It contains measures that an impact assessment conducted by the Department for Work and Pensions forecasts will bring an additional 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into relative poverty;
- It will have a disproportionate impact on individuals with fluctuating mental health or non-visible conditions, who may struggle to meet narrow functional descriptors despite experiencing profound barriers to daily living and mobility;
- Because its provisions have not been designed to uphold the dignity, independence and security of people who rely on the welfare system.
Prime Minister says there is a “moral case” for reform
Speaking to reporters during a NATO summit, the Prime Minister said that it is not a system that can be left unreformed, “not least because it’s unsustainable, and therefore you won’t have a welfare system for those that need it in the future.
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“So those that care about a future welfare system have to answer the question – how do you reform what you’ve got to make sure it’s sustainable for the future?”
The most significant cuts to disability benefits were unveiled in the Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper . The aim was to unlock economic growth by saving £5 billion by 2030.
The main elements of the welfare reforms include proposed changes to Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance.
Mikey Erhardt, DR UK Policy Officer, said: “Despite promising a consultative process, the Government is trying to force through a vote on proposals it won’t even share detailed information about. With so many clear unknowns, we don’t think any MP could vote for these cuts with a clear conscience.
Rather than delivering change, this government is attempting to implement cuts that are even more severe than those of the austerity years. Yet again, Disabled and working-class people who need support are being told you are the problem, you don’t deserve support.”
