photo credit: Fæ
Merseyside politicians have spoken out against planned Government cuts to disability payments, claiming they will hit the poorest people in the region unfairly.
Work Secretary Liz Kendall announced the changes to the UK’s welfare system in Parliament yesterday. The changes including tougher means testing for disability allowances. It was also announced that people under the age of 22 will no longer qualify for personal independence payments (PIP) in an effort to reduce the UK’s rising welfare bill.
Savings from the implementation of the cuts will be reinvested in work and training schemes to help get them back into work, the Government has claimed.
Liverpool Riverside MP Kim Johnson told MerseyNewsLive: “This government’s assault on disabled people is nothing short of sadistically cruel. Pursuing policies indistinguishable from the cruelty of Tory austerity is not cost-cutting; it’s a false economy that will devastate lives.”
She added: “I’ve heard from constituents who are terrified about how they will survive. Many are already struggling to afford the basics, and slashing support will only deepen hardship and suffering.
“PIP is not just a benefit; it’s a lifeline for so many disabled people. Denying it won’t solve anything – it will only entrench cycles of poverty and ill health. These cuts are a direct attack on dignity and respect. I will fight for a society that prioritises welfare, not warfare – where no one is left behind.”
Earlier this week, Liverpool West Derby MP, Ian Byrne, asked Ms Kendall during a heated Commons session: “Does the Secretary of State really believe it is fairer to balance the books on the backs of disabled people and the poor, rather than introduce a wealth tax on the super rich?”
Meanwhile Liverpool Labour councillor, Steve Munby has today labelled the cuts as a “continuation of Tory austerity” in a scathing social media post.
The councillor has suggested that the Prime Minister, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Ms Kendall should be removed from office labelling the Government as “incompetent and not Labour”.
Last week, Liverpool Riverside MP, Kim Johnson told Mersey News Live that the cuts were “straight from the Tory playbook”.
She said: “We were promised no return to austerity, yet we are witnessing the same harmful policies that have disproportionately impacted the poorest in society.
“These cuts will only deepen the struggles of people already living in precarious conditions.”
A Liverpool social justice charity and food bank has claimed that the cuts could see a rise in young people requiring its services.
Micah Liverpool offers vital services to people in the city living in poverty or financial difficulty, with services including emergency food aid, financial advice and support and raising public awareness of poverty-related issues.
A representative of the charity said that it was unfair to remove PIP eligibility from the under-22s: “I think there’s a false narrative that if they’re younger people, then somebody in their family will help them out, but actually the idea of the PIP payments is the idea of independence.”
Liverpool financial advisory service Raise, have told of the impact the changes to the system will have to those affected in the city.
Linda Daley, operations manager at Raise said: “We are deeply concerned about the proposed changes to the benefit system and the significant impact they may have on our clients living with sickness and disabilities.
“Living with a disability comes at a significant cost, both financially and emotionally. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is designed to help level the playing field, offering crucial support to those who need it most.
“However, with the proposed changes to the benefit system, this vital lifeline could be under threat, putting disabled people at even greater risk of hardship. It’s essential that the voices of those affected are heard, and that PIP continues to provide the support needed to ensure independence and dignity for all.”
Featured image (c) Creative Commons Licensing. Credit: Fæ
