In this article
What’s at stake?
Over 108 Labour MPs — including at least 10 select committee chairs — have backed a reasoned amendment aiming to block or pause the government’s Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) reform bill. These MPs argue the reforms are being rushed, lack proper consultation with disabled people and carers, and could drag around 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into poverty.”
Labour Rebellion Over Welfare Cuts Gains Momentum
Background & Scale of Cuts
- £5 billion savings planned annually by 2029/30 via tightened eligibility criteria for PIP and sick UC support.
- Welfare spending projected to breach £100 billion annually by 2030 without reforms.
- Critics from charities like Scope and Mind warn the cuts could erode essential support for many disabled people.
Key Quotes from the Rebels
- Josh Fenton-Glynn (Calder Valley): “Today, I have co-signed an amendment … this is not a decision I have taken lightly … I won’t support a bad choice.”
- Louise Haigh (Sheffield Heeley): “Disabled people have not been consulted … we have not given enough time for employment-support reforms to work.”
- Polly Billington (East Thanet): “The government’s current plans risk pushing some people further away from work.”
A Frontbencher Quits in Protest
Former whip Vicky Foxcroft resigned in mid-June, stating she could no longer “vote for reforms which include cuts to disabled people’s finances.” In her letter, Foxcroft emphasised her support for reform but not at the expense of vulnerable people, calling the proposed changes a “bad choice.”
Government Response: Held Firm
- Keir Starmer, en route to a NATO summit, defended the changes as addressing a welfare system he called “broken” and “unsustainable.” He described cuts as a moral choice to ensure future viability: “That is not a system … left unreformed … you need to answer: how do you reform … to make sure it’s sustainable for the future?”
- Pat McFadden emphasised the rising claimant numbers—“about 1,000 people per day”—and reassured MPs changes would progress while talks continue.
- Liz Kendall, the Pensions Secretary, called the reform package “rooted in fairness,” noting that the toughest parts, like WCA removal, were already mitigated.
Party Discipline and Consequences
- Back-benchers reportedly face threats of losing the whip or deselection.
- Despite warnings, the rebellion has gained significant traction: from 108 rebel MPs, even a defection of ~83 could kill the bill.
- This marks the largest rebellion of Starmer’s premiership, alongside past revolts like those over benefit caps in 2024.
Timetable & Next Steps
- The vote on the reasoned amendment is due July 1, subject to selection by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle.
- If selected and carried, the amendment could delay or block the bill, pending further consultation and assessments.
- Starmer’s team is expected to launch a final round of internal discussions and constituency visits ahead of the vote, hoping to sway wavering MPs and frame the reforms as both compassionate and necessary for long-term stability.
Fast Facts Recap
| Angle | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scale of revolt | 108 MPs (25% of PLP), including senior select committee chairs |
| Chief concerns | Lack of consultation; impact on disabled people and children |
| Party unity under pressure | Threats of whip removal; Foxcroft quits; a test for Starmer’s leadership |
| Countdown to vote | Speaker needs to select amendment; ~83 Labour rebels could topple gov’s majority |
| Wider context | Part of bigger narrative—welfare cuts to fund defence and rebalance recovery |
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