SNP MPs have joined up with a Labour rebellion in a bid to kill off the UK Government’s welfare reform bill.
The party has given its backing to a backbench amendment that would thwart proposals in the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.
The bill seeks to cut back disability benefit payments by around £5 billion per year.
The amendment opposing the cuts has been signed by more than 120 Labour MPs in what marks the biggest rebellion Keir Starmer has faced since he came to power.
Twelve Scottish Labour MPs are among those to have signed the amendment, which notes that the UK Government’s “own impact assessment estimates that 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty as a result of [the bill], including 50,000 children”.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner confirmed to the House of Commons on Wednesday Labour are planning to press ahead with a vote despite mounting opposition to the reforms.
Stephen Flynn, SNP Westminster leader, said all SNP MPs have signed the amendment.
He called on all parties to unite to “stop Keir Starmer’s attack on disabled people”.
Flynn asked, in particular, Scottish Labour MPs who are yet to sign the amendment to “do the right thing”.
“The best way to kill this bill and stop Labour’s attack on disabled people is to ensure this amendment is taken and voted on next Tuesday and the best way to ensure that happens is if this amendment is cross-party,” he said. “That’s why all SNP MPs have now signed this amendment. It is essential that parties and MPs across the parliament now unite to stop Keir Starmer’s attack on disabled people.
On Wednesday, the Trussell Trust warned that 300,000 disabled and sick Scots are set to lose £500 a year if the Labour Government's plan are pushed through – with new claimants hit by as much as £3000.
Under the proposals in the bill, eligibility for the Personal Independence Payment (Pip) will be limited, along with the health-related element of Universal Credit.
Prime Minister Starmer said on Wednesday morning from The Hague: “We’re pressing on with a vote on this because we need to bring about reform.”
Defending the plans while at a Nato summit, Starmer said the current system “traps people in a position where they can’t get into work”.
“In fact, it’s counterproductive, it works against them getting into work,” he said.
“So we have to reform it, and that is a Labour argument, it’s a progressive argument.”
