Latest news with #DebbieAbrahams
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
PM's constituency lit up with messages over DWP cuts - 'Tax super rich instead'
One of the messages on the clocktower at St Pancras Station in Keir Starmer's constituency said 'Tax The Super Rich Instead' while another added 'Being Sick Or Disabled Isn't A Choice' Campaigners against planned disability cuts have projected messages on a key landmark in Keir Starmer's London constituency. One of them on the clocktower at St Pancras Station said "Tax The Super Rich Instead" while another added "Being Sick Or Disabled Isn't A Choice". The campaign group 38 Degrees, who organised the stunt on Wednesday evening, said it was sending the Prime Minister a message he cannot ignore. It comes after the government unveiled around £5billion in cuts to disability benefits in March - largely by restricting eligibility to Personal Independence Payments (PIP). Charities have expressed alarm at the changes which could lose to hundreds of thousands of people losing eligibility to the key disability benefit. CEO of the campaign group 38 Degrees, Matthew McGregor, described the cuts as "heartless" and said sick and disabled people across the country "are terrified". "None of us know when we might need a safety net, so it's no wonder that hundreds of thousands of people have spoken out against these plans, and thousands more have chipped in to bring a message to Holborn and St Pancras that Keir Starmer can't ignore: stop these cruel cuts, protect the sick and vulnerable, and tax the super rich instead," he said. The PM is also facing the biggest revolt of his premiership so far when the reforms to PIP are voted on in the Commons in June. Over 100 Labour MPs have written to the Chief Whip saying they cannot support the measures and have urged the government to pause. They have expressed concern over an official government analysis suggesting the reforms could result in extra 250,000 - including 50,000 kids - falling into poverty. And just last week the cross-party Work and Pensions Committee - led by the senior Labour MP Debbie Abrahams - also wrote to the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall urging her to delay the reforms. They said MPs are being asked to vote on the changes "without the benefit of a full impact assessment" and costing from the economic watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility. But speaking to The Mirror, Ms Kendall said: "I understand people's concern and I understand people are anxious. But we are consulting with disabled people and the organisations that represent them on our PIP review, to look at the assessment process. I believe the task of helping people who can work, get work, is urgent." She added: "I am listening. I have great respect for Debbie Abrahams and members of the Committee. I am talking in detail with MPs... we want to get this right. I think the task of overhauling the system that has written off and denied people support for too long - there has been failure of the last government to deal with these problems - and I want to make a start."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Martin Lewis' inbox 'flooded' with messages concerned about same thing
Martin Lewis has revealed that his inbox is "flooded" with messages from people concerned about cuts to disability benefits. Back in March, the government announced plans to cut around £5 billion from sickness and disability benefits, with restrictions to the eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) being the main target of the cuts. Martin told BBC Radio 4 on Friday: "My mailbox is flooded with people concerned on that - both with physical and mental health disabilities problems - worried about how they are going to live and how they are going to continue. Read more: Martin Lewis urges parents on Universal Credit to 'check out' £1,800 perk "When you take a payment away from people who have no other income the biggest problem you have is what do you do, how do you transition them to the new lower income when prices are going up? "The answer is you can't. So it will cause pain and the government need to be aware of that." The finance guru isn't the only one concerned about the proposed cuts, as over 100 Labour MPs have suggested they cannot support the measure, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer facing the a major revolt over it. Now, a cross-party Work and Pensions Committee, which is led by Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, wrote to the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall urging her to pause the reforms. Ms Kendall said: "I understand people's concern and I understand people are anxious. But we are consulting with disabled people and the organisations that represent them on our PIP review, to look at the assessment process. "I believe the task of helping people who can work, get work, is urgent." She added: "I am listening. I have great respect for Debbie Abrahams and members of the Committee. "I am talking in detail with MPs... we want to get this right. "I think the task of overhauling the system that has written off and denied people support for too long - there has been failure of the last government to deal with these problems - and I want to make a start." Join our dedicated BirminghamLive WhatsApp community for the latest updates sent straight to your phone as they happen. You can also sign up to our Money Saving Newsletter which is sent out daily via email with all the updates you need to know on the cost of living, including DWP and HMRC changes, benefits, payments, banks, bills and shopping discounts. Get the top stories in your inbox to browse through at a time that suits you.
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Martin Lewis gives reason worried people are 'flooding' his inbox
Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis warned ministers their decision to cut disability benefits will 'cause pain' for the thousands of people who will lose their payments Martin Lewis has said his "mailbox is flooded" with people worried about cuts to disability benefits. The Money Saving Expert founder said slashing the welfare budget will "cause pain" for the thousands of people who will lose their payments. He warned ministers to "be aware" of the impact of their policy amid a growing rebellion within Labour over the decision to change welfare rules. Martin told BBC Radio 4 on Friday: "My mailbox is flooded with people concerned on that - both with physical and mental health disabilities problems - worried about how they are going to live and how they are going to continue. "When you take a payment away from people who have no other income the biggest problem you have is what do you do, how do you transition them to the new lower income when prices are going up? The answer is you can't. So it will cause pain and the government need to be aware of that." It comes as Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall told The Mirror she understood concerns over looming disability benefit cuts - but insisted the reform was urgent. In March the government announced plans to cut around £5billion from sickness and disability benefits. Most of the savings will be made by restricting eligibility to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) - a key disability benefit. Over 100 Labour MPs have suggested they cannot support the measure with Keir Starmer facing the biggest revolt of his premiership so far at a vote next month. And on Thursday evening the cross-party Work and Pensions Committee - led by Labour MP Debbie Abrahams - wrote to Ms Kendall telling her to pause the reforms. Ms Kendall said: "I understand people's concern and I understand people are anxious. But we are consulting with disabled people and the organisations that represent them on our PIP review, to look at the assessment process. I believe the task of helping people who can work, get work, is urgent." She added: "I am listening. I have great respect for Debbie Abrahams and members of the Committee. I am talking in detail with MPs... we want to get this right. "I think the task of overhauling the system that has written off and denied people support for too long - there has been failure of the last government to deal with these problems - and I want to make a start." Meanwhile, Mr Starmer said earlier this week he would U-turn on his controversial winter fuel cuts to ensure more eligible pensioners could get the payment. The PM has been facing mounting pressure over the decision and was punished at the ballot box at the local elections over the choice. On Friday Labour 's Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan said Mr Starmer should provide winter fuel payments to the "majority" of pensioners after the major U-turn. She urged the government to rethink the cuts to millions of retirees, welcoming the PM's reversal. But the government is yet to set out how many more pensioners will be eligible for the payment of up to £300 this winter. Ms Morgan said she wanted the "majority of pensioners" to now get the benefit. She added: "I'm not sure if millionaires should be getting a winter fuel allowance. So let's just make sure that they don't get it." Speaking to the BBC, the Welsh First Minister also said she would "stick" to the left of UK Labour also said she was concerned about the Prime Minister's comments on immigration.
ITV News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Committee of MPs urge Starmer to pause disability cuts amid poverty fears in letter seen by ITV News
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is being advised to urgently pause the Government's plans to cut disability and health benefits by Parliament's work and pensions committee, ITV News can reveal. The cross-party group, chaired by Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, has expedited the conclusions of a report into the reforms - and has said they should not go ahead without a comprehensive impact assessment. The politicians say that disabled people must also be consulted before MPs are asked to vote on the reforms. After hearing from a series of experts, the group warns of possible unintended consequences. The letter warns: "The legislative changes might not incentivise work as the Government hopes, but rather push people deeper into poverty, worsen health, especially in more deprived areas, and move people further away from the labour market." Abrahams told ITV News that she understood the financial strain facing the Government, and the need to reform welfare to support disabled people into work. But she also cited expert evidence that cutting benefits could increase the risk of suicides. On Personal Independence Payment (PIP) cuts the letter reads: "We urge the Government to delay its plans to amend the eligibility criteria for the daily living component of PIP and engage disabled people and their organisations in order to co-produce proposals for a new PIP, as part of the PIP review. "Most importantly, we need to guarantee that those who need PIP will not lose out. At that point, it should publish and properly consult on its proposals more widely." It comes as Starmer hinted a government U-turn on pensioner's winter fuel payments on Wednesday, after saying in the Commons he wants to "ensure more pensioners are eligible". In the Government's Spring Statement on March 27, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced cuts to welfare, including changes to PIP and universal credit, along with £500 million of cuts to incapacity benefit. Backlash has been building amongst Labour MPs over these reforms, specifically over PIP - a benefit designed to help with the cost of disability. Last week, ITV News revealed senior figures in Government have accepted concessions may need to be made to halt a large-scale rebellion of Labour MPs in a parliamentary vote on the controversial welfare reforms. Dozens of MPs have made it clear they are prepared to vote against the changes. The Government's own figures that suggest the cuts will push 250,000 people into relative poverty, including about 50,000 children. MPs are also pressing ministers to set out details about a promise to provide a disability "premium" to the most severely disabled.
Telegraph
15-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
‘I don't think I should be God': Labour MP withdraws support for assisted dying
The first Labour supporter of the assisted dying Bill has broken rank, saying he will now abstain because he does not believe he should 'be God'. Karl Turner, MP for Kingston upon Hull East since 2010, is the first Labour MP who backed Kim Leadbeater's Bill in November to confirm he will not support it at the next major vote. MPs voted 330 to 275 at second reading last year in a historic move to legalise assisted dying. Just 28 MPs switching sides would be enough to kill the Bill when it returns to the Commons. The Telegraph can reveal that Mr Turner, who also supported Lord Falconer's 2015 Bill, is among a growing number of MPs raising concerns about the proposed law change. He told The Telegraph: 'I was enthusiastic in 2015 when it came along in the form of Charlie Falconer, and I've been relatively enthusiastic thereafter, but I am worried, if I'm honest with you, about the safeguards in terms of judicial scrutiny.' Mr Turner said he now planned to abstain at Third Reading, but added: 'I think if I was forced, I would vote against. If there was no option to abstain, I would go and vote against right now.' Debbie Abrahams, Labour MP and head of the work and pensions committee, confirmed to The Telegraph that she would vote against the Bill, having previously abstained. Mr Turner warned the Bill risks failing to protect terminally ill people who may choose assisted death to avoid burdening loved ones, and said he was not persuaded that Ms Leadbeater's replacement of a High Court judge with a three-member panel would offer sufficient scrutiny. The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill would allow adults with fewer than six months to live to receive medical assistance to die, with approval from two doctors and a multi-disciplinary panel. Ms Leadbeater has already faced a significant backlash over her decision to replace the High Court judge – who previously had the final sign-off – with a panel made up of a psychiatrist, social worker and lawyer. Mr Turner, who watched almost every minute of the committee debates, said he was persuaded by arguments from Conservative MPs who he would 'instinctively think were talking nonsense'. 'I feel a bit pathetic, to be honest, because I feel a bit like I've turned into a Conservative on these social issues,' he said. 'I used to be very liberal, but I just don't think – I'm going to sound like I'm religious, I'm not particularly – but I just don't think I should be God at the minute. It's not my job. I've got enough on my plate.' In recent days, interventions from medical bodies including the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of Physicians have prompted MPs to come forward with concerns. The Telegraph understands that at least 18 MPs from Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats who previously backed the Bill or abstained are now considering voting against. These MPs join Lee Anderson and his former Reform UK colleague Rupert Lowe, who have previously publicly declared they plan to oppose the legislation. This shift comes a day before Ms Leadbeater's bill returns to the Commons for debate on a raft of amendments. While a final vote on the bill is technically possible on Friday, the volume of proposed changes means MPs are expected to need two sittings – making a third reading unlikely before 20 June. On Wednesday, The Telegraph revealed that Charlie Dewhirst, the Conservative MP for Bridlington and the Wolds, who previously abstained, now intends to vote against. 'I am concerned now that the scope is very wide,' he said. 'There seems to be a lack of protections, for example, for people with autism. And it really feels to me that it's far wider than we were assured it was going to be to start with. 'So for that reason, I can't support it in all good conscience.' Tory grandee Sir David Davis and Bobby Dean, the Liberal Democrat MP for Casterton and Wallington, who also previously backed the Bill, told The Telegraph they are undecided. Another former bill supporter, the former Conservative minister George Freeman, told Times Radio that Ms Leadbeater's bill risks creating a 'suicide culture' and a 'Dignitas industry' and he intended to vote it down. Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Turner, who trained as a lawyer before being elected as an MP, said he was unconvinced by Ms Leadbeater's argument that removing High Court judges from the process has strengthened the Bill. 'I'm not massively persuaded by the fact that it's 'even more secure than it ever was now, because it's a panel of three, and could be a retired judge, and it would be a lawyer at least by trade',' he said. 'I've met lawyers, and some of them are good and some of them are crap. And the reality is, it doesn't satisfy me on the scrutiny point.' However, he said the loss of judicial oversight was not the main reason he had 'gone off the idea'. What ultimately changed his mind were the arguments put forward by Conservative MPs during the committee stage. 'I watched virtually every single minute of the committee stage remotely, and that's something I've never done on any bill in the entirety of my time in Parliament,' he said. 'I was like a mad person, glued to the computer screen watching the bill committee, because this legislation is really serious.' He explained: 'The committee stages were incredibly instructive to me. The people who were speaking were the people who I would naturally and instinctively think were talking crap, but they were putting arguments together which were persuading me. 'In other words, the hard Right-wing Tories, who you would instinctively think were talking nonsense, if you're a socialist like I am, were actually persuading me that there's a question mark that needs to be addressed.' Among the issues that swayed him were concerns that people might opt for assisted death because they felt like a burden, and that family members may not even be notified beforehand. In committee, Ms Leadbeater and her supporters voted down an amendment requiring families to be informed prior to an assisted death taking place, arguing it could breach privacy and that not all people have good relationships with relatives. Mr Turner said: 'Well, that's all well and good, but when you're talking about a scenario whereby somebody is dead the next few days or weeks or months, then the conversation needs to be brought about. I think for me, the arguments against that one are more persuasive, frankly.' He also expressed concern about people pressuring themselves into opting for an assisted death. 'I also feel concerned about coercion,' he said. 'Not in the sense that family members would coerce in order to benefit from some estate, I don't think that's true, but what I do worry about is individuals have got something terrible, and they don't want to be a burden on the family. That worries me.' While he acknowledged some terminally ill people may genuinely want to die sooner to spare their families, he said this argument cuts both ways. 'I'm not particularly religious, but my worry is you are coerced into [an assisted death], not through all the parties coercing you, [but] coerced by yourself to end it. So I'm worried about this, I am worried about this legislation,' he said. The Labour MP was also troubled by a warning this week from the Royal College of Psychiatrists that there may not be enough psychiatrists to staff the proposed panels. 'That worries me, because they were initially all right about it, and they've now changed the tune en mass,' he said. Pointing to further concerns raised by the Royal College of Physicians, he said: 'I just don't think we've got it right for now. And I'm worried that it's too serious, if I'm honest.' At Second Reading in November, nearly twice as many Labour MPs voted for Ms Leadbeater's Bill than against it (234 to 147), with 18 abstentions. The majority of Tory MPs opposed the proposed legislation (92 to 23, with three abstentions), while the majority of Lib Dems were in favour (61 to 11). Three Reform UK MPs supported the bill, and two opposed. The next stage of the Bill – a third reading, where it could be killed off – is expected next month, and will likely fall on Friday, June 20. Mr Turner, who will not be able to attend the final vote due to childcare commitments, was critical of his own indecision. 'I'm not enthusiastic enough to go and vote against either, which is a bit pathetic, because I find MPs who sit on the fence deserve to have spikes in the backside,' he said. 'You're elected to do a job and you should vote for or against something. You shouldn't just sit out of it, in my view, and that's been my attitude forever, but I'm just not enthusiastic enough to vote against, but not enthusiastic enough to vote for.' This inability to be convinced either way has left him 'a little bit ashamed', he conceded, adding: 'I think if I was forced, I would vote against. If there was no option to abstain, I would go and vote against right now. So that's how I feel.' Ms Abrahams, the MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said in November that she was concerned about society approving the principle that 'the state will assist someone to die'. She said in a statement: 'As we have seen in Canada and Belgium this has led to additional groups of people being deemed eligible for an assisted death.' It comes as Ms Leadbeater confirmed that people who bully their grandparents into an assisted death could face life in prison. Speaking on LBC on Thursday, the Labour MP said anyone who pressures a family member into ending their life would be jailed under strict safeguards in the legislation. When first introduced, the Bill proposed up to 14 years in prison for coercing someone into seeking or undergoing an assisted death. But it has since been toughened to allow life sentences. Ms Leadbeater said: 'Within this Bill, we have multiple levels of safeguards and checks for coercion and pressure, and we also have criminal offences that mean you could go to prison for life if you are found guilty of that.'
