Fears are mounting over the possibility of cuts to Britain’s welfare system, particularly after a disability minister did not rule out reductions to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and other benefits in the upcoming month.
Sir Stephen Timms, Minister of State for Social Security and Disability, was questioned in Parliament today (March 17) regarding Labour’s anticipated welfare reforms set to be unveiled on Tuesday. Liz Jarvis, MP for Eastleigh, voiced concerns from her constituents about potential PIP cuts.
She pressed Sir Stephen for assurances that disability benefits for those “who are unable to work” would remain intact, citing cases like Laura, whose son is registered blind, and Debby, who cares for her disabled daughter while being disabled herself. In his reply, Sir Stephen expressed his concern over the recent anxiety and speculation.
He stated: “I’m sad that that’s happened and that people have been concerned. But what I would say to her is that the current welfare system is failing the very people it is supposed to help.”
He continued: “And our aim is to make the system sustainable so that it will be there for people now and in the future. And I think when she sees the proposal, she’ll see how we’re going to deliver on that commitment.”
Concerns have been mounting within the Labour ranks over potential reforms, with Manchester mayor Andy Burnham voicing his caution. He advocated for prudence regarding amendments, stressing: “caution on how changes are made”.
Further stirring the pot, Labour stalwart Diane Abbott expressed her disapproval on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme over PIP cuts rumours, asserting it was “not a Labour thing to do”.
Abbott also voiced a lack of “no sympathy” for those branding benefit collection as a “lifestyle choice”, and remarked: “I think being on welfare is very depressing. It’s very humiliating. It sort of brings you down.”
Instead, Abbott recommended that the government should impose a 2% wealth tax on Britain’s wealthiest to rein in public expenditure rather than resorting to slashes in welfare. Separately, Mr Burnham opined in The Times about Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s view on the British state, acknowledging: “the British state is not sustainable in its current form”.
Burnham, however, argued that the focus should be on fostering employment opportunities instead of diminishing benefits, commenting: “I would share concerns about changing support and eligibility to benefits while leaving the top-down system broadly in place. It would trap too many people in poverty.”
He added: “And to be clear: there is no case in any scenario for cutting the support available to disabled people who are unable to work.”
In the face of concerns, Economic Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds has called for calm and patience among MPs. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday, she reassured listeners by stating, “We’ll set out further details, but the severely disabled and the most vulnerable will always get support, and there will always be a safety net.”
Addressing the premature reactions from some quarters, Ms Reynolds emphasized, “And some colleagues are jumping to conclusions about our plans before they’ve heard them, so I just urge them to be patient.”
