SNP calls for ’11th-hour U-turn’ from Starmer on ‘shameful’ benefit cuts

Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to perform an “11th-hour U-turn” on reports that he plans to slash billions from the welfare budget.

The SNP warned that any “return to austerity will haunt the Labour Party for the rest of its time in government”.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is expected to set out plans for reform on Tuesday in an effort to get more people back to work and cut the cost of a benefits bill described by ministers as “unsustainable”.

But the move has prompted a backlash within Labour amid reports the announcement could include cuts to disability benefits.

Kirsty Blackman, the SNP’s work and pensions spokesperson at Westminster, urged the UK Government not to go ahead with any welfare cuts.

She said: “Keir Starmer must do the right thing and abandon the Labour Party’s cuts to disabled people.

“There is still time for the Prime Minister to perform an 11th-hour U-turn, and scrap these shameful cuts, before it’s too late.

“Otherwise, this return to austerity will haunt the Labour Party for the rest of its time in government.

“Voters were promised that there would be no austerity cuts but the Labour Party has slashed the winter fuel payment, cut international aid, blocked compensation for Waspi women – and now it is threatening to take an axe to disability benefits and public services too.

“Ploughing ahead with these devastating cuts would be the ultimate betrayal of the promises made to voters. It would take vital support away from some of the most vulnerable people in society, and it must not go ahead.”

On Monday, John Swinney urged the Prime Minister to “think again” and abandon cuts that would “punish” the most vulnerable people in the UK.

The First Minister said: “I’ve seen a lot of speculation. I don’t like the look of the speculation that I’m seeing because I think that has the potential to have an effect on the resources that we have available to invest in social security.”

He added: “What I would say in general is that, at this particular moment in time, I don’t think that the right thing to do is to punish those who face vulnerability in our society by the type of cuts that have been talked about by the UK Government.

“I would encourage the UK Government to think again.”

Last week, a group of poverty and disability charities, including Disability Rights UK and the Trussell Trust, warned cuts to disability benefits could have a “catastrophic impact on disabled people up and down the country”.

Emma Reynolds, the economic secretary to the treasury, urged MPs to be “patient” amid mounting backbench discontent over the changes, accusing members of her party of “jumping to conclusions”.

Reports suggest the scale of the backlash has prompted a rethink of rumoured plans to freeze the level of personal independence payment (Pip) rather than increase it in line with inflation, delivering a real-terms cut to 3.6 million claimants.

But other backbenchers have expressed anger that proposals such as the Pip freeze had leaked out, suggesting to the PA news agency this had been done in “bad faith” before anything had been agreed by Ms Kendall and the Treasury.

A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “We have been clear that the current welfare system is broken and needs reform, so it is fairer on the taxpayer and helps long-term sick and disabled people who can work to find employment, whilst ensuring it provides support for those who need it most.”