MPs will not back welfare cuts

THE Government has been accused of taking money away from “people on pennies” while the wealth of the richest in society continues to rise - by one of its own MPs.

- JAMES ROBINSON Local Democracy Reporter

It comes as six North East MPs added their signatures to a letter calling on Keir Starmer’s administration to reconsider planned cuts to welfare. The statement, signed by a total of 42 MPs, called the move “the biggest attack on the welfare state since George Osborne”.

The Government has come under increasing fire after a poor performance in the local elections that saw them lose 187 council seats across the country. The bruising night saw them reduced to eight seats in Northumberland and just four in County Durham.

The major shake-up to welfare was announced in March and aims to save money and support people who can work to find jobs. Ministers claimed that changes to a key disability benefit called personal independence payment (PIP) and universal credit (UC) would save around £5bn a year by the end of 2030.

The North East MPs to sign the letter were: Ian Lavery (Blyth and Ashington), Emma Lewell (South Shields), Mary Glindon (Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend), Kate Osborne (Jarrow and Gateshead East), Grahame Morris (Easington) Mary Kelly Foy (City of Durham).

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, a visibly angry Mr Lavery slammed the proposals for impacting those on lower incomes.

He said: “There is not one person in here who was elected to make people poorer - not one. If you are, you should feel ashamed.