Labour Faces Backlash Over £5 Billion Welfare Reform Plan

Critics warn the proposed cuts to disability benefits could harm vulnerable groups, while Labour defends the measures as fiscally necessary.

Labour's welfare reform plan aims to save £5 billion by tightening eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and restructuring assessments.
The number of people claiming incapacity or disability benefits has surged since the pandemic, with PIP spending forecast to rise to £21.8 billion in 2024-25.
Advocacy groups and Labour MPs argue the cuts disproportionately affect disabled and elderly individuals, increasing poverty risks.
Labour defends the reforms, emphasizing fiscal sustainability and introducing a new premium for those unable to work due to severe health conditions.
A crackdown on welfare fraud is also included, granting the Department for Work and Pensions new powers to recover unpaid debts.