SCOTTISH Labour MPs have the numbers to stop the UK Government’s disability cuts and have been urged by the SNP to join a growing backbench rebellion.
SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said that the vote would be a “test of fairness” for Scottish Labour MPs. However, in response to the call, the party told Flynn to get his “own house in order” and hit out at the SNP.
Last week, more than 120 Labour MPs signed an amendment that would have blocked the looming changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and the sickness-related element of Universal Credit (UC).
The cuts, which would reportedly save £4.8 billion by 2029-30, would have pushed 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into poverty.
The rebellion forced the UK Government to make “concessions”. Now the legislation will allow current PIP claimants to keep their benefits, but tighten eligibility for new claimants. Those currently receiving the UC health element, as well as new claimants meeting the severe conditions criteria, will have their incomes “fully protected in real terms”.
However, the SNP and other critics have said this is still not good enough. With a vote on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Bill set for Tuesday, it has been widely reported that 50 Labour MPs are set to defy the Government whip.
It could be the biggest rebellion of Starmer’s premiership yet. SNP MP Flynn said Scottish Labour MPs have the power to stop the UK Government’s “attack on disabled people”.
Of the 50 MPs reportedly set to rebel, the only Scottish MP in the cohort is Brian Leishman, who said on Sunday he was not “proud” of Starmer’s first year in charge.
This means 83 Labour MPs would need to rebel to ensure a Government defeat, with all opposition and independent MPs also voting against the Government.
If all remaining 36 Scottish Labour MPs joined with their colleagues and the opposition in voting against the legislation, it would take the number of rebels to 86.
This would stop the legislation from passing at the second stage and moving on to the House of Lords.
Flynn said that the parliamentary maths are “becoming clear” and urged Scottish Labour MPs to block the legislation.
“This legislation, which would create a cruel two-tier disability system, is an attack on disabled people and its fate now rests in the hands of Scottish Labour MPs,” he said.
“The choice ahead of those Scottish Labour MPs is simple – they can either support Keir Starmer’s cuts or they can support disabled people.
“This is a test of fairness and a test of values – how can any MP vote for a system that means if you have an accident that causes a disability, develop a disability over time or if you have a child with a disability, you will receive less support than those who have come before you.”
Flynn said it was also a test for Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who has so far backed the cuts despite the growing rebellion.
“People in Scotland will be watching to see how he instructs his Scottish Labour MPs to vote today – and they won’t forget if he fails to do the right thing,” he said.
"People in Scotland know that the SNP will strongly oppose these cuts - we will vote against them and work against them at every single parliamentary stage and step.
“The Scottish people should be able to expect that every Labour MP in Scotland will do the exact same.”
It comes as modelling published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) suggested around 150,000 people will be pushed into poverty by 2030 due to the welfare cuts, as the plans currently stand.
A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “With 240,000 children in Scotland living in poverty, record numbers of homeless young people, rising sexual crime and the NHS on its knees, Stephen Flynn should hang his head in shame over what the SNP have done to Scotland.
“With the SNP now reviewing the application of their own ADP benefit, the hypocrisy that they have displayed over the current welfare bill has been exposed for all to see.
“Stephen Flynn should get his own house in order and apologise to the Scots being failed every day by his knackered and incompetent party.”
