DEPUTY Prime Minister Angela Rayner has refused to rule out removing the whip from Labour MPs who vote against proposed welfare cuts.
Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions, Rayner, who was standing in for Keir Starmer, claimed to be “committed to ending child poverty” but refused to answer whether Labour MPs would be allowed to oppose proposed welfare cuts without facing repercussions.
Labour have previously said they are planning on changing the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), which the UK Government's own analysis has said will push 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children.
The Welfare Reform Bill has faced fierce criticism from opposition parties and some Labour MPs as it looks to reduce the number of working-age people on sickness benefits in a bid to save £5 billion a year by the end of the decade.
SNP MP Pete Wishart challenged Rayner on Wednesday about whether she believes that Labour MPs have the right to oppose the proposed “devastating cuts”.
He said: “I remember when the Deputy Prime Minister was a fierce critic of austerity and a proud champion for the disabled.
“But today, her government is introducing its five billion pounds disability cuts bill, which will push another 250,000 people into poverty.
“Does she agree that everyone has the right to oppose such devastating cuts?
“So, is it the Prime Minister's intention to remove the whip from any Labour MP who does the right thing and votes against these disability cuts?”
Rayner refused to answer Wishart’s question as she replied that she would like to “gently” say that the current Labour Government has given the biggest amount of increase to Scotland’s budget.
She went on to say: “We're absolutely committed to ending child poverty. We've already introduced free school meals.
“We're already supporting families. “We've given a living wage rise to over millions of workers that need it.
“We're getting the job.”
Despite Rayner’s claims about giving the biggest amount of increase to Scotland’s budget, the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde said there were “significant reductions in funding for the Scottish Government” relative to what was previously forecast.
Following the Chancellor's announcement in March, Scotland’s top financial institution estimated that the Scottish Budget will be around £900 million worse off on the current side in 2029/30 than previously projected.
Labour are also facing a potential rebellion over the vote on the Welfare Reform Bill as around 100 MPs have already signed a letter warning Starmer that they will not support sweeping cuts to disability benefits.
The letter warned Labour ministers that a significant group of MPs who are not “consistent rebels” have major misgivings about plans to cut back both Pip and the health component of Universal Credit.
