Socialist Party Wales Socialism In Wales
Starmer’s Labour government is preparing its attacks on disability benefits. Hundreds of thousands of disabled people who currently receive Personal Independence Payments (PIP) will have it taken away entirely, and over a million people will lose some benefits.
For weeks, disability rights campaigners have been protesting, writing to newspapers, and pleading with MPs to stop the Welfare Reform Bill. Work and Pensions secretary Liz Kendall has in response tried to give reassurances that the cuts really aren’t that bad. But the government’s own impact assessment says 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty. No surprise, the cuts will be taking an average of £4,500 a year from some of those that need it most.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer have doubled down on the attacks, saying there will be no U-turns. But they are clearly worried. Recently, some 170 MPs were reported to be planning to oppose it and dozens of Labour MPs have openly done so, likely the biggest rebellion in Labour’s year of government so far.
In response, Labour has made small concessions, in particular that those losing PIP will receive it for 13 weeks after being found ineligible. Poole’s Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan responded simply: “Poverty delayed is still poverty”.
Labour is balancing the anger of the working class, many who know someone struggling with the torturous benefits system and disability support, against the interests of the bosses and bankers who would rather keep their profits at the expense of the rest of us.
Labour has already been forced into U-turns, it can be pushed back again. Unions should take the lead alongside disability rights groups to organise mass opposition. This should include a weekend demonstration against Labour austerity as a launchpad for sustained trade union action.
There is enough money in our society to ensure the needs of disabled people can be met, from lifelong support out of work, to genuine assistance in work, and enough money to live without fear of poverty.
Some disabled people, demonised by the government and right-wing press, have said they are made to feel like imposters. Let’s be clear – the only imposter is the party that carries the name ‘Labour’ while attacking the working class, including disabled people. The majority of Labour MPs still cannot be convinced to openly oppose the cruel attacks. We need a new party that will fight for disabled people and the entire working class, with socialist policies that will take money off the rich to help the poor, not the other way round.
