Paul Nowak has told Keir Starmer that slashing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will hurt the public and make things worse for disabled people.
‘Cutting PIP Won’t Fix This’
Paul Nowak, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), has sent a clear message to Keir Starmer: cutting PIP is the wrong move.
Nowak warned that after 14 years of Tory austerity, reducing disability support will only deepen the country’s problems — and won’t win public support.
“A major lesson from the Tory years is that austerity damaged the nation’s health. We must not make the same mistake again.”
He argued that PIP helps disabled people stay in work and avoid relying on other benefits. Cutting it, he said, would be a step backwards.
Labour Under Pressure Over Welfare Cuts
Labour plans to cut £5 billion from welfare spending. However, opposition within the party is growing fast.
Over the weekend, Labour MP Rachael Maskell said colleagues have “deep, deep concerns” about the proposed cuts.
Nadia Whittome also spoke out on BBC Radio 4, warning that Labour is “getting it badly wrong” on welfare reform.
“It’s not disabled people who crashed the economy, caused low wages, or drove up rents — we must not scapegoat them for the failures of Conservative governments.”
Whittome, who was on disability benefits as a teenager, said she can’t support the cuts.
“I can’t look my constituents in the eye. I can’t look my mum in the eye and support this.”
Labour Told To Fix PIP — Not Cut It
Nowak urged Labour to fix issues with PIP rather than scrapping it.
“Labour should work with trade unions and disabled people’s organisations to sort out PIP — not cut it.”
The pressure is building. Labour’s leadership may soon face a serious internal rebellion over these cuts.
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