Siân Berry’s message to labour: stop scapegoating and stigmatising those in need


/ by Green Party

Reacting to the statement from Liz Kendal’s to parliament today on proposed cuts to welfare benefits [1], Siân Berry MP said:

“I’ve heard nothing today that reassures me the Government will stop scapegoating and stigmatising those in need, while impoverishing them to the tune of £5 billion. Young and disabled people should have the support and backing of the Government but instead they have been badly let down this month with the active trailing of terrifying plans.

“It’s clear that these plans were plotted without the input of those whose lives will be most impacted. Disabled people must be listened to before any changes are made, and I hope that Labour backbenchers will join me in being their fiercest defenders and fight off the worst of these plans.

“The Chancellor must listen as well, to growing calls from Green MPs, the public and even many millionaires for a wealth tax. How can she stoop as low as any Conservative Chancellor and take money away from disabled people rather than get a grip on the obscene wealth being hoarded in this country? This morally indefensible choice will have devastating consequences, and the Government should be ready to answer for it.”

Notes

[1] Deep cuts, Pip and ‘right to try’ work: the key changes in UK benefits overhaul | Welfare | The Guardian

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Green MPs write to Labour colleagues to urge benefit cuts opposition

Every Labour MP has been sent a letter by Green MPs ahead of an announcement next week urging them to rebel against plans to slash around £6billion from the welfare bill

Dear Colleagues,  

Ahead of the upcoming Spring Statement and Green Paper on welfare, I am writing to urge you to oppose strongly and vote against any proposed cuts to welfare benefits, which are rumoured to be as deep as £6 billion.

Along with my Green colleagues, I am gravely concerned about the catastrophic impact any such cuts would have on millions of disabled people.

It is not news to you that those in receipt of health-related benefits already face inordinate hardships, with 50 per cent of people claiming Universal Credit who have limited capability for work unable to heat their homes, pay their bills or have low food security.[1]

Scope told us recently that proceeding with cuts rumoured to be set out in the forthcoming Green Paper on welfare reform, will push an added 700,000 disabled households into poverty.[2]

I am certain that your inbox, like mine, is filled with emails from constituents telling you how terrified and anxious they feel about how to make ends meet should their support payments be ripped away. There is no moral case for making these cuts.

The years of damaging austerity inflicted upon public services and welfare provision by the previous Conservative Government has already brought our communities to breaking point.

The United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has called on the UK Government to take “corrective measures” to address the immense negative impact of welfare cuts introduced by successive Conservative Governments since 2010.[3] But even George Osborne, at the height of austerity, ruled out freezing inflation-linked rises to PIP payments; a change the current Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is rumoured to be introducing.

I know you didn’t campaign for this, and that you stood up at the election for a welfare system based on dignity and respect.

Like me, I expect you feel alarmed at the rhetoric coming from the Government that is instead scapegoating disabled people. Pushing people who are in need into deeper poverty will do nothing to address the root issues that lead to welfare claims, namely housing insecurity, poor quality jobs, huge wage inequality and a soaring mental health crisis.

[1] https://www.jrf.org.uk/news/factsheet-health-related-benefit-cuts

[2] https://www.scope.org.uk/campaigns/open-letter-to-the-chancellor-the-cost-of-cuts-to-disability-benefits

[3]https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=E%2FC.12%2FGBR%2FCO%2F7&Lang=en

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Green leaders urge Labour backbenchers to vote down benefit cuts


/ by Green Party

Green co-leaders Adrian Ramsay MP and Carla Denyer MP appeal to Labour backbenchers to think again on supporting looming benefits cuts:

“Experts at Scope suggest that 700,000 disabled households will be pushed into poverty by the government’s planned changes to welfare.

“This is an unconscionable choice for any government to make. And it is a choice. We could and should be choosing to tax the very wealthiest a small amount more instead.

“Sadly, though, this Labour government has a growing track record here. They’ve chosen to place extra hardships on those already struggling – from cutting winter fuel payments to pensioners to refusing to reverse the two-child benefit cap, keeping 540,000 children in poverty.

“We don’t think for a second this is what most Labour MPs came into politics for.

“We know many will feel incredibly uncomfortable at the moment. But feeling uncomfortable isn’t enough.

“We need these Labour MPs to have a moral backbone and vote for what they genuinely believe in to prevent these cruel, unnecessary policies from being enacted.”

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Green leaders urge Labour backbenchers to vote down benefit cuts


/ by Green Party

Green co-leaders Adrian Ramsay MP and Carla Denyer MP appeal to Labour backbenchers to think again on supporting looming benefits cuts:

“Experts at Scope suggest that 700,000 disabled households will be pushed into poverty by the government’s planned changes to welfare.

“This is an unconscionable choice for any government to make. And it is a choice. We could and should be choosing to tax the very wealthiest a small amount more instead.

“Sadly, though, this Labour government has a growing track record here. They’ve chosen to place extra hardships on those already struggling – from cutting winter fuel payments to pensioners to refusing to reverse the two-child benefit cap, keeping 540,000 children in poverty.

“We don’t think for a second this is what most Labour MPs came into politics for.

“We know many will feel incredibly uncomfortable at the moment. But feeling uncomfortable isn’t enough.

“We need these Labour MPs to have a moral backbone and vote for what they genuinely believe in to prevent these cruel, unnecessary policies from being enacted.”

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Green leaders urge Labour backbenchers to vote down benefit cuts


/ by Green Party

Green co-leaders Adrian Ramsay MP and Carla Denyer MP appeal to Labour backbenchers to think again on supporting looming benefits cuts:

“Experts at Scope suggest that 700,000 disabled households will be pushed into poverty by the government’s planned changes to welfare.

“This is an unconscionable choice for any government to make. And it is a choice. We could and should be choosing to tax the very wealthiest a small amount more instead.

“Sadly, though, this Labour government has a growing track record here. They’ve chosen to place extra hardships on those already struggling – from cutting winter fuel payments to pensioners to refusing to reverse the two-child benefit cap, keeping 540,000 children in poverty.

“We don’t think for a second this is what most Labour MPs came into politics for.

“We know many will feel incredibly uncomfortable at the moment. But feeling uncomfortable isn’t enough.

“We need these Labour MPs to have a moral backbone and vote for what they genuinely believe in to prevent these cruel, unnecessary policies from being enacted.”

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