Labour Abandons Planned Disability Benefit Cuts Amid Parliamentary Rebellion

The Labour government, despite its strong majority and four-year mandate, faced significant backlash over its proposed cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP), designed to tighten eligibility and achieve quick savings. These changes triggered widespread concern among disabled individuals and Labour MPs, leading to a major rebellion within the party and forcing a dramatic government U-turn to protect current PIP claimants and delay changes until 2026, applying only to new claims. Critics, including independent experts and former officials, argued that the cuts focused on emergency cost-cutting rather than a long-term strategy to help those with ill health return to work, missing opportunities for supportive measures like employer subsidies. The reforms caused anxiety and fear among vulnerable populations, with many Labour MPs condemning the cuts as harmful and not aligned with Labour values, emphasizing the need for a more inclusive and supportive welfare system. Internal government divisions surfaced over how to handle the rebellion, with concessions being considered to avoid defeat in Parliament. This controversy raises broader questions about the Labour government's approach to welfare reform and its overall strategy for national renewal.