Inside Labour's benefits rebellion as Keir Starmer faces biggest revolt yet

[LeftishBrit]

Under the reforms eligibility for PIP - a key disability benefit - will be tightened with hundreds of thousands of people expected to lose support when the changes are ushered in. A government analysis in March warned the overall reforms could push over 250,000 people - including 50,000 kids - into poverty by the end of the decade...

Members of the new intake of Labour MPs elected just last year - including Steve Witherden and Cat Eccles - also spoke out against the cuts during the debate. Ms Eccles said: “The narrative being created is that of scroungers and cheats when in reality disabled people are fighting tooth and nail for every little scrap they get.”

Less than 24 hours later a letter was sent to the Prime Minister from 42 MPs saying the reforms were "impossible to support". They warned it represented "the biggest attack on the welfare state since George Osborne ushered in the years of austerity". It was signed by a number of left-wingers, including Ms Abbott, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Ian Byrne, Ian Lavery and Nadia Whittome.

A separate letter is also expected to be sent to the Chief Whip in the coming days, which has reportedly been signed by as many as 80 MPs. But in a move that will cause alarm in Downing Street the letter is understood to have been signed by those who have voted in line with the leadership since Mr Starmer won power back ten months ago - rather than known rebels.


https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/inside-labours-benefits-rebellion-keir-35201423

[T_i_B]

1. One factor in the local election results...

...was the cut to winter fuel allowance, which lost Labour vast swathes of the OAP vote in one fell swoop. So Starmer needs to tread carefully.