Labour leadership faces mounting rebellion over disability benefit cuts
- Rebel Labour MPs are threatened with suspension for opposing cuts to disability benefits.
- Around 50 Labour MPs plan to dissent against the £5 billion welfare reforms.
- The backlash highlights the potential impact of the planned cuts on vulnerable citizens.
In the United Kingdom, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is encountering a substantial backlash from within his party regarding proposed cuts to disability benefits. As of June 2025, party whips have threatened Labour MPs with suspension and blacklisting if they oppose plans aimed at reducing the welfare bill by £5 billion. This controversy centers around the removal of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for up to 800,000 individuals, a move that many MPs and advocates argue will exacerbate poverty among disabled people. Approximately 50 Labour MPs are prepared to vote against the measures, with additional MPs likely to abstain, indicating significant dissent within the party. Angela Rayner, acting on behalf of Starmer, did not rule out consequences for dissenting MPs, emphasizing the leadership's strict position on the matter. Criticism of the reforms has been widespread, with various MPs and charities describing the proposed cuts as