THE Health Secretary was forced to admit that the Labour Government wants fewer disabled people to be able to claim benefits ahead of a crunch vote on welfare reform next week.
Wes Streeting was interviewed on the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme by Victoria Derbyshire, who was filling in for Kuenssberg, about the UK Government’s proposed cuts to welfare, which have been described as a “two-tier disability system” by campaigners.
The UK Government confirmed on Friday that it will make major changes to its planned welfare cuts, aiming to avoid a rebellion by more than 120 Labour backbenchers.
Under the new plan, people already receiving Personal Independence Payments (PIP) or the health element of Universal Credit will keep getting them. However, the cuts will apply to future claimants.
When pressed by Derbyshire, Streeting was forced to admit that the Labour Government is planning on having fewer people able to claim disability benefits by reforming the welfare system.
During the interview, Derbyshire said: “Members of the cabinet, you on this program this morning, and the Prime Minister have said it previously, the current system is not sustainable.
“But even after your review, the bottom line is you want fewer people in receipt of PIP, fewer disabled people in receipt of PIP, don't you?”
Streeting replied: “Well, we want to make sure we're getting the line in the right place in terms of...”
To which Derbyshire cut him off and asked: “So, the answer is yes. You want fewer disabled people claiming PIP?”
Streeting continued: “I think 1000 more people, coming on every day like it's not sustainable in its current form, it's just not.
“And unless we address that issue, we've got to do it in a fair way.
“We've got to do it in the right way.”
Derbyshire interrupted Streeting again saying: “But you won't say that out loud. Why not?”
Streeting replied: “Well I just did.”
Derbyshire then asked for clarification that there will be fewer disabled people able to claim PIP.
To which Streeting replied: “I literally just said, we've got to make sure that in terms of where we are, where we draw the line, where we get it right, that it is sustainable for the longer term.”
MPs are expected to vote on the welfare reform bill on Tuesday at Westminster. The UK Government will be hoping it passes after offering Labour rebels a series of concessions in a bid to head off Keir Starmer’s first major Commons defeat since coming to power.
The UK Government’s original package had restricted eligibility for PIP, the main disability payment in England, and cut the health-related element of Universal Credit, saying this would save around £5 billion a year by 2030.
Now, the changes to PIP eligibility will be implemented in November 2026 and apply to new claimants only while all existing recipients of the health element of Universal Credit will have their incomes protected in real terms.
Speaking on Times Radio earlier this week, campaigner at Disability Rights UK Mikey Erhardt said: “The idea that you will be less in need, or less deserving of support, depending on the when of the condition that necessitates that support, is something you just have to reject out and out.”
Meanwhile, Ian Greaves, who edits the Disability Rights Handbook containing in-depth information on the social security system across the UK, said Labour’s “very small” concessions on welfare reforms will still leave the system “woefully inadequate”.
