Keir Starmer is trying to see off a rebellion by Labour MPs (Image: Getty)
Keir Starmer is braced for more resignations over hated cuts to disability benefits as Labour’s civil war continues. Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft has resigned as a Government whip over proposed cuts to disability benefits which mean 800,000 people will lose funding.
In a letter informing the Prime Minister of her resignation, the MP for Lewisham North said: “I know I will not be able to do the job that is required of me and whip – or indeed vote – for reforms which include cuts to disabled people’s finances.” She was backed by other Labour MPs angry about the cuts, after the Government’s own analysis showed there will be an extra 250,000 people in poverty as a result, including 50,000 children.
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Hartlepool’s Jonathan Brash saying he had the “utmost respect” for her “principled stand” and Crewe and Nantwich’s Connor Naismith saying it “must have been an incredibly difficult decision but she should be commended for standing by her principles”.
And even Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she “did the honourable thing”. Asked about the resignation of Ms Foxcroft, the Culture Secretary told Times Radio: “I know Vicky very well, and she is the only frontbencher that I’ve had any discussions with about her resigning.
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“I know that she really wrestled with the decision, and there’s no disagreement between us on the principle of wanting to help people who can work to get work, and protecting those who can’t ever work, and making sure that we reform the system so that it works for everybody.”
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But this could be just the start, with 170 Labour MPs said to have signed a letter to party whips expressing concern.
Referring to the resignation, one rebel MP said it’s “almost impossible to believe it’ll be the last”, Politico reported this morning.
And another said they were being threatened with being suspended from the Parliamentary Party if they rebelled - but this would backfire. They said: “You can’t do that to 170 MPs. We’ll just go off and form Labour 2,” The i Paper reports.
Responding to Ms Foxcroft’s resignation, a Government spokesperson said: “This Labour Government was elected to deliver change. The broken welfare system we inherited is failing the sick and most vulnerable and holding too many young people back. It is fair and responsible to fix it.
“Our principled reforms will ensure those who can work should, that those who want to work are properly supported, and that those with most severe disabilities and health conditions are protected.”
Sir Keir Starmer has faced a backlash from some Labour MPs over proposals to reform the welfare system expected to save up to ￡5 billion a year.
Legislation introduced into Parliament on Wednesday includes a tightening of the criteria for the main disability payment in England, personal independence payment (Pip).
Ministers also want to cut the sickness related element of universal credit (UC), and delay access to it, so only those aged 22 and over can claim it.
The package of reforms is aimed at encouraging more people off sickness benefits and into work, but dozens of Labour rebels said last month that the proposals were “impossible to support”.
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Pip is a benefit aimed at helping with extra living costs if someone has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of their condition.
The latest data, published on Tuesday, showed 3.7 million people in England and Wales claimed Pip, up from 2.05 million in 2019, with teenagers and young adults making up a growing proportion of claimants.
Around 800,000 people are set to lose out on the benefit under the Government’s proposals, according to an impact assessment published alongside Wednesday’s legislation.
The impact assessment also confirmed a previous estimate that some 250,000 more people, including 50,000 children, are likely to fall into relative poverty after housing costs in 2029/2030, although the Government repeated that this does not take into account the potentially positive impact of ￡1 billion annual funding by then for measures to support people into work.
Changes to universal credit are expected to see an estimated 2.25 million current recipients of the health element impacted, with an average loss of ￡500 per year.
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But the Government said around 3.9 million households not on the UC health element are expected to have an average annual gain of ￡265 from the increase in the standard UC allowance.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the legislation “marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity”.
But Neil Duncan-Jordan, the Labour MP for Poole and one of the backbenchers opposed to the change, said the Government was “rushing through” the changes and urged ministers to think again.
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