A Labour MP has told Keir Starmer disabled people had told her they are “full of panic about the future” over controversial benefit cuts.
Sarah Owen told the Prime Minister the reforms – announced a fortnight ago – had caused “quite a bit of stress” for some who fear they may lose support. She read out examples from her own inbox, saying one told her: “I am beyond stressed with anticipation of losing money – I have £700 to live on this month.”
Another said: “The proposed cuts to disability benefits have left me full of panic about the future and extremely let down.” Ms Owens said a third person had written to her, saying: ‘I feel so sick, physically sick. The whole process is horrid, please represent me.”
Pressed on what he would say to them, the PM insisted the government would continue to help those who “do need support and protection”. Another Labour MP, Debbie Abrahams, asked Mr Starmer how he would ensure the reforms “do not push people into poverty” after grim official forecasts.
At the Spring Statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled £4.8billion in cuts to welfare – with hundreds of thousands set to lose out. Most of the savings will be made as a result of the decision to restrict eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) – a key disability benefit.
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The government’s own impact assessment warned the reforms could plunge 250,000 people – including 50,000 kids – into poverty. Ms Abrahams told the PM a separate analysis from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation suggested it could result in 400,000 falling into poverty.
But Mr Starmer appeared to criticise the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) for not scoring the impact of reforms aimed at helping people into work. The PM said: “It is significant to my mind that the ability of any policy to change behaviour is not priced in. The OBR have scored nothing against any change here. The assumption is not a single person changes their behaviour
“I personally struggle with that way of looking at it. I do think these measures will make a material difference and they need to make a material difference.” Mr Starmer added: “One of the achievements of the last Labour government was to reduce child poverty. I want this Labour government to reduce child poverty as well.”
Mr Starmer also said people “occasionally don’t get it quite right” with the words they use and “usually apologise” when asked if he would clamp down on ministerial language such as comparisons of benefits to pocket money. The PM said “dignity is probably the most important word in my dictionary” and has guided his approach to politics and previously to his legal career.
It was put to the PM that both the Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones and Chancellor Rachel Reeves had talked about pocket money in relation to benefits. He was asked whether it was important that Cabinet members do not use language which demonises people.
He told the Commons Liaison Committee: “Of course language matters, I think every member of Cabinet knows that. Occasionally people don’t get it quite right. They usually apologise and are quite right to.” The two values that have driven me in everything I’ve done as a lawyer and as a politician are dignity and respect. Dignity is probably the most important word in my dictionary.”
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