Starmer’s Welfare Cuts Spark Fury – Disabled Brits Could Lose £675 a Month

Sir Keir Starmer is pushing forward with controversial welfare cuts that have sparked outrage—even within his own party. The reported plans could see some of the UK’s most severely disabled people losing an average of £675 a month, triggering a major backlash.

Among the most worrying proposals is the potential cut to Personal Independence Payments (PIP), the key disability benefit. The sheer scale of the impact has left Labour MPs deeply concerned, with some branding the move “perverse” and warning of a devastating effect on those unable to work, reported the Express.

The reported plans have caused such an uproar that it appears the Government may be reconsidering its idea to freeze PIP rather than increasing it in line with inflation, which would have resulted in a real-terms cut affecting 3.6 million claimants.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is expected to set out the full proposals tomorrow. The Government is defending the need for reform, pointing to a sharp rise in the number of people claiming sickness or disability benefits in England and Wales, which has jumped from 2.8 million in 2019 to around 4 million today. This surge has pushed the benefits bill to £48 billion in 2023-24, with projections showing it could climb to a staggering £67 billion by 2029-30—surpassing even the country’s current schools budget.

One Labour MP, speaking to The Guardian, admitted they were bracing for the worst, describing the coming days as an “absolute horror” and predicting this could be “the worst week of the parliament.” Others have echoed their concerns, questioning why the Government would choose to target those already struggling the most.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting attempted to calm the storm on Sunday, insisting that the Cabinet has not yet reviewed the full proposals. Speaking to the BBC, he urged people to ignore “speculation” but acknowledged that Liz Kendall’s priority is to ensure help reaches those who need it most while ensuring everyone contributes where they can.

Greater Manchester Mayor and former Labour leadership contender Andy Burnham is urging caution, writing in The Times that while he agrees the welfare system needs “a radical overhaul,” simply cutting benefits is not the solution. He believes the Government should be focused on helping people get into work rather than slashing vital financial support.

“I would share concerns about changing support and eligibility to benefits while leaving the top-down system broadly in place. It would trap too many people in poverty,” he warned.

Burnham was unequivocal about one thing: “There is no case in any scenario for cutting the support available to disabled people who are unable to work.” With Labour MPs and key figures within the party voicing serious concerns, Starmer’s Government is facing mounting pressure to rethink its approach. The question now is whether they’ll listen—or steam ahead regardless.