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Labour rush to get first vote on PIP and UC cuts over

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Labour are rushing to get the first vote on personal independence payment (PIP) and universal credit (UC) cuts over and done, with the second reading scheduled to happen on Tuesday 1 July.   The earliest the vote on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill could have happened is the day before.

The government may be hoping the tight schedule will reduce the chances of organised opposition both within and outside Parliament.  There are also reports in the Independent that Labour are trying to crush opposition from backbench MPs by threatening that they will be ruled out of government jobs and could lose the Labour whip if they vote against the cuts.

But the resignation of former shadow disability minister Vicky Foxcroft from her position in the whips office last night in protest at the bill will have come as a blow to ministers, who will be hoping there will be no more high profile resignations in the next few days.

Meanwhile Disabled People Against Cuts had already announced a protest rally in Parliament Square on Monday 30 June, starting at 4.30pm and it’s likely that other protests will take place around the country.

Campaigners will now have just a week to try to persuade sympathetic Labour MPs to follow their consciences, rather than allowing tribal loyalties or fear of consequences to dictate how they vote.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    lesley
    · 19 hours ago
    Not sure if I am posting this on the relevent heading but just read this on John Pring's site Disability news service. Apologies if it's been posted before, but I looked and could not find another reference to it.


    Looks like they are pretty desperate to clobber us disabled persons.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Pixelmum
    · 2 days ago
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/22/labour-disability-benefit-cuts-keir-starmer
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      James
      · 1 days ago
      @john She must have a psychosomatic head for coming up with such tripe
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Dez
      · 2 days ago
      @john Just looked up her up and she apparently has an MA in creative writing. She's clearly putting it to good use!

      Also, good lord, her Wikpedia page! I've never seen a page on there with so many "needs additional citations for verification" disclaimers in my life. One would think she wrote it up herself.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      john
      · 2 days ago
      @Pixelmum So according to consultant neurologist Suzanne O’Sullivan "The Age of Diagnosis," where she critiques the culture of overdiagnosis in modern medicine. Which is apparently bedside reading material for our politicians. Lots of current disabilities are actually psychosomatic. Including amazingly illnesses for which their are definitive medical blood tests. Dear me next we will be told that people who blatantly only have one leg really have two, and that it is psychosomatic that they think they have one leg, and that they have amazingly been able to fool definitive medical tests like blatantly physically only having one leg.   
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Mark Mac
    · 2 days ago
    Are Labour breaking their commitment to the disabled people of the uk set out in the guidelines of the COPD ? 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    keepingitreal
    · 2 days ago
    Can't believe this nonsense is still being published as news

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      keepingitreal
      · 2 days ago
      @keepingitreal I think the some here have misunderstood my comment. I meant the article is well out of date presenting Timms's vague waffling. We're all well beyond that.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      GS
      · 2 days ago
      @keepingitreal 700,000 pensioners. What about all the rest?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    truth
    · 2 days ago
    So it's looking like labour might make conssesions to the Bill.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Yorkie Bard
    · 2 days ago
    UK promise of £1bn boost to job support for disabled not yet funded

    So they have already "spent" the £5 billion that they intend to save from the benefit cuts - & now we learn that they haven't got the £1 billion that they intend to us to "help" us back into work!


    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Blue
      · 1 days ago
      @Dez
      Never mind jobs for employers who are keen to take on people with disabilities.

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      truth
      · 1 days ago
      @Yorkie Bard We will officially be in recession by November anyway.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Dez
      · 2 days ago
      @Yorkie Bard Totally didn't see this coming from light years away! It's already been widely reported that Access to Work has its funding cut and employers are still waiting on grants for adapting their work places for disabled employees. 

      A billion quid would've been like putting a plaster on a broken bone at this point.

      Not to mention the vacancies just aren't there anyway. They could pledge the entire amount of savings on "helping" us get back to work tomorrow, it's not going to make jobs appear out of nowhere.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    (No) hope
    · 2 days ago
    Topically at the moment, regime change is talked about in other countries around the world, Iran specifically at the moment…after what I’ve read about Starmer over the last year since he got his foot in the door of number ten, and how he has shown his bullying, vindictive ways, and the oppressive way he likes to govern, we need regime change here.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Yorkie Bard
    · 2 days ago
    150 Labour MPs ready to rebel against welfare reforms

    Around a dozen people “on payroll” – junior ministers and parliamentary private secretaries (PPSs) – are toying with the idea of resigning, according to sources, following in the footsteps of Vicky Foxcroft, who quit her role as a whip last week.

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Yorkie Bard
    · 2 days ago
    EXCLUSIVE Labour rebels could jump ship to form Left-wing 'real socialist' party amid anger over proposed welfare cuts?

    Getting serious now!

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Old Mother
      · 2 days ago
      @DJ I don’t understand this sudden conversion to part contribution if you’ve been on income related for years. Is it an error ? 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Cat
      · 2 days ago
      @Slb I think people have opened thier eyes and would welcome Corbyn and many other great mps I would in a heartbeat 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      john
      · 2 days ago
      @Slb
      General Election Labour Leader % of electorate who voted for them and if they won.
      2024 Starmer 20.2% Won
      2019 Corbyn 21.6% Lost
      2017 Corbyn 27.5% Lost
      2015 Miliband 20.2% Lost
      2010 Brown 18.9% Lost
      2005 Blair 21.6% Won
      2001 Blair 24.2% Won
      1997 Blair 30.8% Won
      1992 Kinnock 26.7% Lost
      1987 Kinnock 23.2% Lost
      1983 Foot 19.9% Lost
      1979 Callaghan 28.0% Lost
      1974 Wilson 28.5% Won
      1974 Wilson 29.3% Won
      1970 Wilson 31.0% Lost
      1966 Wilson 36.4% Won
      1964 Wilson 34.0% Won
      1959 Gaitskell 34.5% Lost
      1955 Attlee 35.6% Lost
      1951 Attlee 40.3% Lost
      1950 Attlee 38.7% Won
      1945 Attlee 36.2% Won
      1935 Attlee 27.0% Lost
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Dez
      · 2 days ago
      @Slb I personally feel the main reason Corbyn did so badly in the 2019 election was because a lot of his manifesto was about reversing Brexit when tensions were still high in regards to that. People - particularly those who voted to Leave - just didn't want to hear that sort of thing at the time so I feel everything else promised in his manifesto just got ignored completely, not matter how appealing it seemed.

      What's more, Corbyn has already stated he wouldn't be leading this new party anyway. They're apparently going for a younger candidate.  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Slb
      · 2 days ago
      @Yorkie Bard There is a problem with that, though, as we saw with Labour under Corbyn: the idea of a "real" socialist party doesn't win votes.  The country always votes for centre-left or centre-right. It's almost as if the population us afraid to commit either way.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Notwavingdrowning
    · 2 days ago
    A friend of mine wrote to our local Labour MP and got this response two days ago:

    Let me first reassure that even if the proposals go forward as they stand, which is unlikely, they will not be implemented for at least another year. There would, therefore, not be any immediate changes to your friend’s benefits.

    It is understood that the uncertainty around these changes is very distressing for someone in that position. Concerns are being raised in ongoing discussions with ministerial colleagues. However, it is also encouraged to express views in the government’s recently launched consultation into the impact of the changes to PIP, which can be accessed here.

    The welfare reforms are intended to succeed and resolve the many problems with the current system. Nevertheless, there is acute awareness of the challenges they may throw up for many people in similar situations.

    I have a long history of helping and campaigning alongside Disabled people, both locally and in Parliament.

    The government’s welfare reforms contain some welcome improvements on the current situation:

    People with lifelong health conditions, who will never be able to work, will no longer face future reassessments and will also be eligible for a new Universal Credit (UC) premium.

    Existing claimants will have their UC health top-up protected, and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) will not be frozen and will continue to rise with inflation.

    To help people into work, a new “Pathways to Work” plan will invest up to £1 billion in tailored employment support for Disabled people and those with health conditions. This will include “support conversations” to help people to access work – and a “Right to Try” guarantee so people can try out a job without fear of being reassessed.


    As is known, PIP is unrelated to whether someone is working or not – it supports people with the additional costs of their disability. It is understood that the proposed changes to eligibility are leaving many extremely concerned about whether they will still get their benefit.

    These concerns have been raised with ministerial colleagues, and discussions will continue to seek assurances that the poorest and most vulnerable will still be supported. Charities are also being consulted to ensure their views are heard.

    Finally, it should be mentioned that, although the changes are aimed at taking £5 billion out of the system, the huge increase in PIP claims in recent years means that government is still likely to be spending close to £70 billion on health benefits by 2029.

    To help meet these rising costs, it is right the government is asking the wealthiest to pay more. The last Budget raised taxes on non-doms (people who live here but don’t pay tax on overseas earnings), on those who work in private equity, on people with enough assets to pass on large amounts in inheritance, on oil companies, on private jet owners and more. Continued pressure will be applied to push for fairness in the tax and benefit systems.

    Thank you again for sharing concerns about the proposed changes. Please rest assured that this feedback will be passed on to government.

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    truth
    · 2 days ago
    What is the chance of Labours Bill failing now,does anybody think it will be pulled.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Slb
      · 2 days ago
      @truth I think the bill will pass.  That said, I had an interesting chat with ChatGPT last night.  It thinks the transition protection period will be amended to 6 months or a year.  It also thinks illnesses and conditions that wax and wane (rheumatoid arthritis, mental health) might get an amendment where reassessment isn't necessary.  Most interesting though is that it thinks some mps currently voting "yes" to the cuts will eventually vote no in the 3rd reading after they hear evidence in the debate.  It cited the assisted dying Bill as an example of when that has happened.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 2 days ago
      @truth
      They will only pull it if they think defeat is certain, or at the very least highly probable.

      However, if the vote goes ahead that does not necessarily mean they are confident of winning. If it's too close to call they may still take the risk of going ahead with it, even though they could well still lose. The reason for this is that if the vote is delayed until the autumn the detailed impact assessments should hopefully be available by then. They know that those assessments will make for very grim reading, which is likely to persuade even more MPs to vote against (which is why they want the vote to go ahead now, before MPs have had a chance to see those assessments). So, even if they're on shaky ground now, they're even less likely to win a vote later in the year.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    SLB
    · 3 days ago
    This little link should allow you access to a new article from Bloomberg, which predicts concessions in the face of a rebellion if it looks like the bill won't get through.  It also says that whips are encouraging MPs to abstain for the second reading and then make a decision before the 3rd.  This seems unlikely to make any different - in fact, I'd assume that MPs are more likely to be changing their mind to vote against when they hear the personal stories that are bound to come up in the debates.

    https://archive.ph/gaPRc
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 2 days ago
      @SLB
      There are encouraging and not so encouraging things in that article. On the one hand, "While some of the would-be rebels have indicated they could be swayed by the government whips," doesn't sound good, whereas "one of them told Bloomberg they are confident that more than 80 MPs will commit to voting against the government" sounds a lot better, given that there are also likely to be quite a lot of abstentions.

      "Whips and wannabe rebels alike expect the potential revolt to be whittled down as July 1 approaches" also doesn't sound great and reinforces the need for us to keep up the pressure on Labour MPs from now until the vote. But this: 

      "Some opponents are weighing whether to abstain at the second reading and wait until the third reading to take a more decisive vote, as whips are encouraging them to do"

      suggests that even if it gets through second reading it could still fall at third reading.

      This bit is the most discouraging on the face of it:

      "“I’d be amazed if he were defeated here,” Anand Menon, director of the UK in a Changing Europe think-tank, said. “If the whips got a whiff they were going to get defeated, they’d give some concessions. The worst of all outcomes is to lose this.”

      On the other hand, the government claims it has offered concessions - true, we know they're meaningless, but it still claims that concessions have been offered, so perhaps they do think they could lose.


  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    D
    · 3 days ago
    I think many are forgetting that in the 2024 GE starmer and mcsweeney shipped in truckloads of ‘yes men’ candidates that would only answer to them not the country (I’m not sure I would go as far as to call them puppets but there are a couple of whispering on twitter that some of the newbie MPs didn’t fully understand the implications of the assisted dying bill (a few were wanting to leave it up for lords to clean up & anger the pro supporters - I’m not sure all the new intake understand the full process and stages of how legislation becomes law if I’m frank) and if starmers hand picked MPs bend to his will as much as rumoured it may be borderline if yesterday was truly a free vote)


    From @CazMac38 on twitter (she was a Labour candidate in the 2022 local elections). An interesting read with all of the rumours of starmer (mcsweeney’s cronies) ‘blackmail’ of Labour MPs who are thinking of voting against welfare bill or abstaining:

    “I read on here an anonymous Labour MP has stated that if anyone breaks the whip with regards to the #welfarereform cuts to #PIP they will not be allowed to stand as a candidate during the next #Generalelection. If this is true, which I do believe as it mirrors the way in which I was treated during the last Local election in my area. Here is my response to this below:

    Absolute bullies, they did this to me when I was a candidate in the local election in 2022 after a so called administration error by my agent putting me in the wrong ward. I was told to hide and not campaign to give the candidates chosen for that ward a chance or I would be thrown out the @UKLabour @ScottishLabour #labourparty. The paper candidate who appeared on the campaign trail the day this happened to me was elected in to the seat I had worked hard for years to hopefully start my political career.

    A high profile Labour MSP promised to mentor me into the SE next year…telling me I would be an ideal candidate with my extensive knowledge of health and social care due to my lived experience. I had no choice to resign as the news of the welfare cuts hit the headlines. I could never campaign with a party who is going to destroy the lives of people living with disabilities. A shocking party and government with no regard for the distress this #TakingThePIP is causing people all over the UK who may I add do not choose to have disabilities. No-one is immune to becoming disabled and needing the support of our welfare system that Labour set up in the first place…..when its values were to support our most vulnerable with dignity! See below 👇 @Keir_Starmer you are not @UKLabour or your front benchers that sit with you on this. I really hope you have a massive rebellion on your hands with your #LabourMPs

    For anyone wishing to leave or resign from the Labour Party it’s easy……I’ve posted a picture with this post.

    According to @Keir_Starmer there are lots of jobs out there so if all you #LabourMPs resign with a healthy conscience in defence of the people who voted for you, you will have nae problem finding another job and at the same time you can hand on heart protected the most vulnerable people in our country.”

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 2 days ago
      @D
      It's true that a lot of Labour candidates at the election were chosen because they're Starmer loyalists, but the reports I've seen on the rebellion suggest that opposition to the cuts is not just coming from the left but all wings of the party, loyalists included. 

      I think a lot of these MPs have had their faith in the leadership badly shaken by the winter fuel fiasco and the resulting thumping Labour received at the local elections. They can see the leadership making decisions which are tanking their poll ratings - and therefore making it a lot less likely that these MPs will hold on to their seats next time round - and it must have occurred to quite a few of them that the disability cuts have the potential to be winter fuel part 2. That's the last thing they want given the damage inflicted by part 1.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Mick
    · 3 days ago
    Starmer has now decided they are not allowed to abstain and they must attend the vote...

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 2 days ago
      @The Dogmother
      "Wonder what the views like from their lofty position"

      Probably none too pretty given that they appear to have their heads up their backsides.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Dez
      · 2 days ago
      @The Dogmother "I just don't get how they think its alright to punch down all the time."

      Sadly, the answer is simple: the "I'm alright, Jack!" attitude. 

      As long as they're OK and they don't lose their payments, that's all fine and dandy. 

      And if other people have to take a hit for that to happen, well, that's just fine too. Especially if these ghouls can convince themselves that they've done something to deserve it. Like benefit fraud. Or having "too many kids", like they said about poor Jodey Whiting.

      It baffles me too, love. For example, the 4 point rule (seemingly) won't affect me because I thankfully have a 4 in an activity but it's really not hard to have empathy for those who do not have a 4 AND to also think that leopards will absolutely eat your face eventually too. It's just a matter of when. Not if. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Gingin
      · 2 days ago
      @The Dogmother I know, same here, it’s easy to start reading it.  Remember, they’re the ones with the attitude problem, not us. They’ve got a nerve and they need just a tiny bit of humility. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      The Dogmother
      · 2 days ago
      @tintack Oh yes. They know every wheel and turn of what makes us tick, how we try to live behind closed doors. Better than trained professionals at diagnoses. 
      Wonder what the views like from their lofty position .
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      The Dogmother
      · 2 days ago
      @Anniesmum It's the sheer venom. They think we live the high life. They've no more experience of being disabled than I have of being a multi millionaire. 
      They say things like "stop their money if they won't take a job."
      "Take cars off them and they'll have to walk,you'll soon see them dropping their walking sticks and getting out of their wheel chairs"!
      Oh yeah what a really good idea. 
      Let's make life as hard as possible. 
      You have to be some kind of evil to think like that. The living in fear of the next brown envelope really makes our lives so cushy.🙄

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Leprechaun
    · 3 days ago
    Starmer and co. showing contempt for the people of Wales by reading the welfare act in Parliament, before the Welsh consultation has even happened.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Dave Dee
    · 3 days ago
    Talk about 1984 double think, we have to take away money from people who need it, so it will be there for people who will need it?? Make that make sense!? 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Yorkie Bard
      · 3 days ago
      @Dave Dee Dave Dee, (Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich)
      I've been waiting for the chance to say that for so long! 
      (If you are young try a Google - it was a pop group in the 1960s).

      You have totally hit the nail on the head - the labour government is rammed with double think & this is the best example of their double think.

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    John
    · 3 days ago
    Another clear mud answer by Timms on if those in the severe group will retain their UC health element after the WCA is abolished if they are not on PIP daily living component.

    Parliamentary written question UIN 58547, tabled on 10 June 2025

    Am just going to quote the relevant bit

    "Alongside these changes we are also looking to provide financial protection in Universal Credit for people with the most severe, life-long health conditions and those who are nearing the end of their lives. This will mean that anyone who meets the Severe Conditions Criteria (existing criteria for people with life-long conditions who can never work); and/or the Special Rules for End of Life (existing rules for people with 12 months or less to live to get faster, easier access to certain benefits) will continue to receive the existing, higher health top-up in Universal Credit over this Parliament. In addition, people who meet the Severe Conditions Criteria will never face a reassessment for Universal Credit, as we committed to do in the Green Paper – removing unnecessary stress, anxiety and uncertainty. As a result, we estimate more than 200,000 people with the most severe, life-long conditions will be protected by the end of the Parliament"


    The concerning bits are:
    For the higher severe disability health element, why the proviso "over the life of this parliament".The WCA is being abolished in 2028, this parliament will end at the latest August 2029.
    For reassments "never face a reassessment for Universal Credit". Why the proviso Universal Credit. What about PIP when receiving PIP daily living component determines eligibility to the UC health premium. Are they going to lose their UC health element if their not on PIP or are they going to keep it? Timms answer does not answer the question.

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Sam
      · 3 days ago
      @John I too have been following his answers on there and I'm pretty convinced he barely reads the questions. He cut and pasting answers so why bother reading them? My point is don't read to much into it
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Anniesmum
    · 3 days ago
    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14831475/amp/Rebel-backbenchers-Labour-2-Keir-Starmer-welfare-cuts.html
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Gingin
      · 3 days ago
      @Anniesmum ‘Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy said the scale of the cuts 'would have made George Osborne blush'.

      She added: 'We cannot underestimate their human and political cost. The public will not forgive us if we remove support from those most in need of it.'
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Yorkie Bard
      · 3 days ago
      @Anniesmum Anniesmum - Brilliant but your link looked "funny". I hope you don't mind but I found this link which is missing "/amp/". For some reason this doesn't look "funny"!!! 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    James
    · 3 days ago
    https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/all-the-labour-mps-who-say-they-will-rebel-against-disability-benefits-cuts/ar-AA1H5dMD

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    D
    · 3 days ago
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpd1qgpw08do.amp

    One Labour MP, who wanted to remain anonymous, told the BBC: "I have heard anyone who breaks the whip won't be allowed to stand as a Labour MP at the next general election.
    "These threats are just making people more angry. We cannot continue to govern in this manner. Quite frankly, if that's his [the prime minister's] view he's lost the plot and is a bully."


    For me any Labour mp who votes against this bill (and especially if they voted against the assisted dying bill) we should do our upmost to be reelected next ge whether they are running for Labour, as an independent or for another party (hopefully they won’t make things difficult and jump over to Tory or reform)

    All of us been bullied and threatened by starmer (aka Morgan mcsweeney and the labour together group) need to help one another to sink any attacks, smears and/or blackmail experienced both disabled and our allies


    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Ann
      · 3 days ago
      @D Well said that labour MP, I'm pleased to see that more labour Mp's are waking up to starmer. He's quite right, starmer is a bully and a dictator, it seems to me that he's got this twisted vision for this country and who ever doesn't fit in will be tossed aside. 

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