Don't punish the disabled

Crackdown 'will harm society's most vulnerable' | Labour MSP claims cuts are causing split in party

- BY CHRIS McCALL Deputy Political Editor

JOHN Swinney has demanded that Keir Starmer “think again” over plans to slash benefits for the disabled.

The First Minister hit out at his Westminster counterpart, saying a benefit crackdown by the PM - set to be announced today - will punish the most vulnerable members of society.

Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon signalled a split in the party as she claimed “working-class people all over the country” are furious at the cuts.

Liz Kendall, the UK Work and Pensions Secretary, will set out reforms today that could see more than 600,000 benefit claimants lose out on an average of £675 a month.

The Labour Government is expected to ditch plans to freeze Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

But Kendall will tighten eligibility criteria for the benefit under big changes to the benefits system.

PIP has been replaced north of the Border by Adult Disability Payment, which is administered by Social Security Scotland. But Swinney expressed fears that cuts to the total PIP paid out could have knock-on effects for his social security budget.

The SNP leader said: