More than 100 Labour MPs have signed an amendment with the goal of blocking the government’s proposed welfare reform bill.
The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill aims to help control the government’s budget through reducing the amount it spends on welfare for people with less severe conditions. It would achieve this by making tightening the criteria for disabled people to claim personal independence payments.
The amendment, published on the Parliament website, is supported by 108 MPs and aims to halt the passage of the bill through passing a ‘reasoned amendment’.
This would prevent the bill from passing its second reading and progressing towards becoming legislation.
Signed by 10 Labour select committee chairs, it cites the lack of a formal consultation or sufficient impact assessments for these reforms among the reasons for denying the bill a second reading.
The MPs also note that an estimated 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty as a result of the bill’s proposed changes, including 50,000 children.
If the government were to abandon its proposed welfare reforms as a result of this rebellion, it would be left with a significant shortfall in its budget, and would likely need to find other ways to cut spending to ensure the sustainability of the welfare state.
Previously, the government has said that unless the welfare state is reformed, it may not survive at all.
“Our social security system is at a crossroads. Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it,” Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said in a statement published last week.
“This will give people peace of mind, while also fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot – putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.”
MPs are expected to vote on the government bill’s second reading on Tuesday 1 July. With a working majority of 165 in the House of Commons, 83 MPs would need to oppose the bill to defeat it.
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