A REBEL Labour MP has launched a bid to halt the Government’s planned Universal Credit.
Backbencher Richard Burgon has tabled an amendment to the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill to prevent the cut to the health component of the benefit.
The current bill, which was gutted of controversial cuts to Personal Independence Payments (Pip) in a last-minute U-turn, still retains the reduction in the health top-up of Universal Credit.
As it stands, the extra payment is set to be cut for new claimants from £97 per week to £50 per week – a reduction to £217.26 per month.
Burgon’s amendment would reverse this cut, keeping the health element at its current rate of £423.27.
It is estimated that the UK Government’s changes would affect more than 750,000 people and result in an annual loss of income of £3000 per person.
It is understood that the amendment has the backing of more than 25 MPs, including 20 Labour MPs.
If selected for debate when the Commons debates the remaining stages of the welfare bill on Wednesday, it could trigger yet another bruising backbench rebellion for Keir Starmer.
The Prime Minister’s authority was dealt a blow earlier this week when the threat of a substantial rebellion saw the UK Government scrap much of its welfare bill mid-debate.
Burgon said: “Despite welcome promises regarding Pip, a huge cut for sick and disabled people remains at the heart of this Bill.
“This cruel and unnecessary halving of the Universal Credit health element will see £2 billion per year slashed from vital support that sick and disabled people rely on.
“The Government needs to scrap this proposal. There should be no two-tier system for disability support.”
