As the UK government prepares to vote on proposed cuts to disability benefit payments, Labour MPs are bracing for a potentially damaging rebellion. With over 80 MPs holding a majority smaller than their constituents’ potential losses, ministers are scrambling to avoid a repeat of previous incidents where backbenchers were disciplined or suspended.
The government is bracing for a potentially damaging rebellion from Labour MPs over proposed cuts to disability benefit payments, with ministers seeking ways to mitigate the impact and avoid a repeat of previous incidents where backbenchers were disciplined or suspended.
Disgruntled backbenchers have expressed concerns that as many as 55 MPs are prepared to rebel against the £4.8bn worth of cuts, with more than 100 others still considering their position. Recent analysis by the Disability Poverty Campaign Group showed that over 80 Labour MPs have a majority which is smaller than the number of their constituents who could lose some or all of their benefits.
The Disability Poverty Campaign Group aims to raise awareness about the significant financial struggles faced by individuals with disabilities.
According to a study, approximately 60% of people with disabilities live in poverty worldwide.
The group highlights that disability poverty is often caused by inadequate support systems, inaccessible education and employment opportunities, and lack of affordable healthcare.
Efforts are being made to address these issues through policy changes and increased accessibility measures.
In an effort to avoid a full-blown rebellion, ministers are offering potential rebels the chance to abstain from the vote. This would be a major climbdown from earlier votes, when rebels were disciplined or suspended from the party. However, some backbenchers have expressed skepticism about this proposal, with one MP stating that they have been warned by party leaders that abstaining would be seen as voting against the government.
As part of an effort to win favour among backbenchers, ministers are also announcing a separate package on child poverty. The strategy aims to lift children out of poverty without entirely removing the two-child benefit cap. Officials are exploring proposals such as increasing universal credit payments for parents of young children, which could cost less than the £3.6bn it would take to remove the cap altogether.
Universal Credit is a welfare benefit program in the United Kingdom, introduced in 2013 to consolidate and simplify previous benefits.
It provides financial support for working-age individuals on low incomes or those unable to work due to illness or 'disability'.
Recipients must actively seek employment and be available to start work immediately.
The amount of Universal Credit varies depending on factors such as income, expenses, and family circumstances.
Eligible claimants can receive up to 67% of the national average wage.
According to UNICEF, approximately 385 million children under the age of 18 live in extreme poverty worldwide.
Child poverty is defined as a lack of access to basic needs such as food, education, and healthcare.
In many countries, child poverty rates are linked to factors like parental unemployment, low income, and inadequate social services.
The effects of child poverty can be long-lasting, affecting physical and mental health, educational outcomes, and future economic prospects.
Several alternative solutions have been proposed, including increasing the payment by £20 a week for those with babies and £10 a week for those with toddlers. This approach has been suggested by the Fabian Society thinktank, which found that doubling the child element of universal credit for those with children under one could reduce child poverty by 280,000 at a cost of £2.4bn a year.
Anti-poverty charities are holding private briefings for MPs to outline the likely implications of the welfare reductions. However, some backbenchers have expressed frustration that they are being asked to vote on the package without an assessment from the Office for Budget Responsibility on how effective the government’s back to work scheme will prove.
The mood among Labour MPs is growing increasingly frustrated, with some expressing concerns that the party leadership is not listening to their concerns. One MP stated that there is a ‘serious depth of concern’ about how the government got into this situation and that the party needs to take action to address it.
As the government prepares for the vote on disability benefit cuts, ministers are facing an uphill battle to avoid a damaging rebellion. With the child poverty strategy offering a potential solution, it remains to be seen whether Labour MPs will rally behind the government’s proposals or continue to press for more drastic action.
- theguardian.com | Ministers scramble to avoid Labour rebellion on disability benefit cuts
