Political correspondent Harry Farley has reported on the urgent call for Sir Keir Starmer to shield disabled individuals who rely on welfare payments from anticipated budget cuts. The current health and disability-related benefits expenditure stands at £65 billion annually and is predicted to surge to £100 billion within the next four years, with growing levels of mental health issues being attributed to the rise in figures. As the government gears up for the Spring Statement, there are talks of trimming the welfare budget, with the Prime Minister enlisting the support of MPs for the cause.
During the Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) session, Sir Keir faced challenges from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and Labour’s Richard Burgon regarding the apprehension felt by disabled people and the proposed reductions in benefits. The suggestion of implementing a wealth tax as a morally sound approach was put forth as an alternative by Burgon. Expected cuts could potentially impact Personal Independent Payments (PIP) and incapacity benefits linked to Universal Credit (UC), implying potential challenges for those with long-term physical or mental health conditions and individuals unable to work.
Despite the looming uncertainty surrounding disability benefits, the emphasis remains on supporting individuals in need while also assisting those capable of working to secure employment. The discussion around implementing a wealth tax and exploring alternative revenue sources has surfaced, with the overarching goal being to drive economic growth and attain stability. Labour MPs have engaged in discussions at 10 Downing Street to deliberate on the proposed changes, as Member of Parliament Jo White stresses the importance of transforming lives and fostering generational change by addressing entrenched reliance on the benefits system
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