Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has warned that Britain's benefits system could collapse unless disability payments are cut, as she published a welfare reform bill that has angered dozens of Labour MPs. The bill, released on Wednesday, will reduce benefits for 950,000 people by 2030, with Kendall arguing that the £326bn social security net may cease to exist if costs continue to rise.
The legislation includes cuts to Personal Independence Payments (Pips) for over 800,000 disabled people and carers' support for 150,000 individuals. Claimants who can only wash half their body or cannot cook a meal will no longer qualify for Pips unless they have another limiting condition. The cuts are part of a £5bn savings package aimed at ensuring the system's financial sustainability.
To appease rebellious Labour MPs, Kendall introduced concessions, including additional financial support for 13 weeks for those losing disability benefits and exempting people with severe conditions like heart disease from reassessments. However, many MPs remain opposed, with some vowing to vote against the bill next month. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner did not rule out suspending rebels.
Criticism has come from within Labour and disability charities. MP Rachael Maskell said the bill would leave disabled people in poverty, while Andy McDonald called it an attack on their incomes. James Taylor of Scope described the bill as catastrophic, warning it would plunge hundreds of thousands into poverty and harm disabled people's health and independence.
