Labour

£345 million cut for over 200,000 people with mental health conditions under this Government  

A new Freedom of Information response published today by the Department of Work and Pensions shows that over 200,000 people with mental health conditions will have their income slashed by Conservative cuts to Employment and Support Allowance introduced in April this year.  

This data flies directly in the face of the Prime Minister’s commitment to end the “burning injustice” of the treatment of people with mental health conditions.

With the cut to Employment and Support Allowance Work Related Activity Group amounting to a £1,500 reduction per person, these new figures show that over £345 million will be taken from the pockets of people with mental health conditions.  

Debbie Abrahams MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary said: 

“These cuts to people with mental health conditions just go to show that you cannot trust a word the Tories say. 

“They have boasted about offering ‘parity of esteem’ to mental and physical health. In reality this just means equal austerity for all. 

“Labour is committed to reversing the Conservatives’ pernicious cuts to Employment and Support Allowance, as well as the cuts to Personal Independence Payments introduced by emergency legislation in March also affecting people with chronic mental health conditions.

“We want to transform the social security system so that it is there for anyone of us in our time of need.”  

John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, commenting on new statistics showing that the number of government-funded social rented homes has fallen by 97 per cent since 2010, said:

“These disastrous figures show that Conservative Ministers have washed their hands of any responsibility to build the homes families on low and middle incomes need. The number of government-funded social rented homes built has plummeted by 97 per cent since 2010.

“After seven years of failure, the Conservatives have no plan to fix the housing crisis. A Labour government would invest in the affordable homes that the country needs.”

John McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, commenting on Philip Hammond’s Mansion House speech this morning, said:

“The Chancellor has made clear this morning that the message remains the same – austerity will continue. The Tories have learnt nothing from the General Election, and the last seven wasted years of economic failure. The Conservatives have no understanding of the depth of suffering, stress and insecurity their long austerity regime has caused.

“And we have seen the Chancellor again trying to distance himself from the position of his Prime Minister on Brexit. It just shows further disarray at the top of government. The fact that there is clearly such a serious split between Number 10 and 11 is very worrying and only helps to undermine our country ahead of the Brexit negotiations.

“It further shows just how weak a position Theresa May is in. And raises the serious question of: how can she negotiate Brexit when her own Chancellor is so publicly disputing her position on Brexit and briefing against his own Cabinet colleagues?

“The truth is that the Government’s spin of over a “hard” or soft “Brexit”, is just a smokescreen to paper over the cracks of the divide at the very heart of this Tory Government. The reality is that they are really planning a Brexit for the few by turning our county into a tax haven off the coast of Europe, which diminishes workplace rights and undermines working people’s living standards.

“Labour has called from day one for the Chancellor to act on gaining assurances over our stake in the EIB, and it has taken him a year to raise a finger; and now he has, all he is offering businesses in our country in way of support to mitigate any risks from the loss of this resource is a drop in the ocean from the actual support they will really need.

“Only a Labour Government will secure a Brexit for the many that will put jobs and the economy first, and ensure that working families and small businesses are protected from any challenges our country faces after leaving the EU.”

“I am shocked by this horrific and cruel attack in Finsbury Park, which is being treated as an act of terror.

“I offer my condolences to the family and friends of the man who has died, and our thoughts are with the people who have been injured, their family and friends.

“As the local MP, I have met with Muslim community leaders at the Muslim Welfare House alongside Islington Council Leader Richard Watts, the council’s Chief Executive Lesley Seary and the Metropolitan Police.

“Richard and I will attend prayers at Finsbury Park mosque later today.

“I appeal for people and the media to remain calm and respectful of those affected.

“In the meantime, I call on everyone to stand together against those who seek to divide us.”

Today the Shadow Chancellor has written to Philip Hammond calling on him to make public the cost of any secret deals he has made with the DUP in order to prop up the Government in parliament.

Please find below the text of the letter sent today by John McDonnell to Philip Hammond:

Dear Chancellor,

I am writing to seek information on a specific element of the deal being discussed between the Prime Minister and representatives of the Democratic Unionist Party, which has emerged in the press.

It is reported that the DUP is seeking the ending of Air Passenger Duty levied on passengers at airports in Northern Ireland.

HMRC estimated the total revenue from APD in Northern Ireland in 2015/16 to be in the region of £90 million.

This figure is an estimate and may need adjustment to take into account further devolved matters.

However a revenue stream of this scale is significant and would pay for the equivalent of, for example, an additional 2000 firefighters. 

I am writing to ask whether the Government has been asked for this measure by the DUP, has agreed to it or is considering it.

In the interest of basic openness and transparency in government I am writing to ask that you publish any financial measures that have been discussed with the DUP and set out the financial implications of any measures agreed with this party.

I look forward to a prompt response given the considerable public interest in this matter and its consequences on our public finances.

Yours sincerely,

John McDonnell MP

Shadow Chancellor