KEIR Starmer has been warned by more than 40 Labour MPs that planned disability cuts are “impossible to support” as the Prime Minister faces the biggest rebellion of his premiership.
In a letter from the 42 parliamentarians, who represent both veteran and new Labour MPs spanning from the party’s left and right, Starmer has been urged to change the direction of his leadership, the Guardian has reported.
Later on Thursday, The Times reported that the number of Labour MPs to have put their names to the letter had climbed above 80.
The Prime Minister has already faced widespread criticism from members of his own party over the proposed £5 billion in benefit cuts, which includes the significant tightening of eligibility for personal independent payments (Pips).
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves's planned disability benefit cuts would affect around 700,000 families who are already in poverty.
Brian Leishman is the only Scottish Labour MP among the signatories, which includes names like Diane Abbott and Kim Johnson.
Starmer now faces the biggest rebellion of his premiership when the House of Commons votes on the proposed measures next month.
In the letter, Labour MPs said the proposals, set out in a government green paper, have “caused a huge amount of anxiety and concern among disabled people and their families”.
It goes on to say: “The planned cuts of more than £7bn represent the biggest attack on the welfare state since George Osborne ushered in the years of austerity and over three million of our poorest and most disadvantaged will be affected.”
It added: “Whilst the government may have correctly diagnosed the problem of a broken benefits system and a lack of job opportunities for those who are able to work, they have come up with the wrong medicine.
"Cuts don’t create jobs, they just cause more hardship.”
The letter calls on ministers to delay any decisions until they see full assessments on the impact of any cuts, raising concerns that they are being asked to approve the plans without proper knowledge of the consequences.
Adding that there needs to be “a genuine dialogue with disabled people’s organisations to redesign something that is less complex and offers greater support, alongside tackling the barriers that disabled people face when trying to find and maintain employment”.
It adds: “We also need to invest in creating job opportunities and ensure the law is robust enough to provide employment protections against discrimination. Without a change in direction, the green paper will be impossible to support.”
The UK Government has been asked for comment.
