Cuts are delayed, not scrapped

It was extremely disappointing to see that all three Labour MPs who represent Renfrewshire go along with the draconian cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and cuts to Universal Credit.

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Although there seemed to be a last minute U-turn by Keir Starmer due to the threat of a rebellion by some Labour MPs and pressure from disability charities, none of the Renfrewshire three MPs showed any hesitation in supporting not only the amended legislation but have also consistently supported the cuts from the beginning.

The MPs include Alison Taylor, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North; Johanna Baxter MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South; and Martin McCluskey, MP for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West.

The legislation originally aimed to tighten PIP eligibility, a move the UK Labour government's own figures said would strip support from up to 800,000 disabled people by the end of the decade.

But Labour's last minute amendments now mean the issue will be revisited as part of a “review” in 2026 - delaying the damage, rather than ending it.

We'll have to wait until the review reports before we find out if this really is another Labour U-turn or if it is just a stalling tactic, and the original bill resurfaces.