A group of academics from Northern universities and health services have calculated how much income each Westminster parliamentary constituency may lose as a result of personal independence payment (PIP) cuts.  Labour constituencies take 92 of the top 100 biggest losers places, with the North East and North West hardest hit, suggesting that PIP cuts are aimed squarely at Labour’s own voters.

The, report was funded and produced by Health Equity North and carried out by academics from the universities of Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield, along with the Northern Health Service Alliance.

Researchers looked at how many PIP claimants in each constituency did not score four points or more for any daily living activity. They then calculated what the loss of PIP for those claimants would mean in total for each constituency as well as what the loss per head of working age population would be.

Researchers found that:

  • The ten worst-hit constituencies are all Labour-held, and in “Red Wall” areas
  • The impacts will disproportionately affect the constituencies which already have the lowest life expectancies in England.
  • They found that the average loss per working age adult in England is £176
  • The changes are set to have the greatest effect on regions such as the North East (£269 per working-age person on average), the North West (£231), Yorkshire and The Humber (£206), the West Midlands (£191) and the East Midlands (£185)
  • The worst-hit constituencies are in Easington (£409 per working-age person), Liverpool Walton (£403) and Knowsley (£389)
  • These three constituencies alone could lose an estimated total of £23.8m, £26.2m and £23.4m respectively per year by 2029/30
  • The smallest difference is in Bristol Central (£62 per working-age person), Oxford and West Abingdon (£66) and Wimbledon (£67)
  • The impact on these constituencies is £5m, 4.7m and £4.9m respectively per year by 2029/30
  • The most-deprived constituencies will lose nearly three times the amount of the least-deprived (£265 per working-age person on average compared to £96)

In fact, because these calculations did not take into account the possible loss of other linked benefits and the loss of additional elements in other benefits, the actual figures could be very considerably higher.

One of the report’s authors, Professor Clare Bambra, said:

“Those areas that will lose most from this proposal were already decimated by austerity, COVID and the cost of living crisis. They have worse health than other regions and their local services and economies are already struggling. Losses of this magnitude risk worsening the situation for everyone living in these deprived constituencies.

“Parliament cannot risk rushing proposals like these through without fully considering how they affect local areas that are already struggling. We hope that research such as ours gives MPs more context, so they can make the most informed, forward-thinking and economical decision.”

Readers with a Labour MP, in particular, might want to drop them an email drawing attention to this report.

You can read more and download a copy of Local Economic Impact of the Proposed Changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) by Parliamentary Constituency

 

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 11 days ago
    Labour are supposed to understand the poorer classes  out of London and hitting disabled like pip when my life is so dependant shameful and not just miserable for meself but everyone who helps. Most people like myself would need care home, commit suicide or just completely fall apart without that extra help.
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    · 14 days ago
    Such huge political damage for such a small amount of money.
    It makes no sense what so ever.
    4 billion is small change down the back of the sofa for the top 1%.
    The UK’s wealth inequality is much more severe than income inequality, with the top fifth taking 36% of the country’s income and 63% of the country’s wealth, while the bottom fifth have only 8% of the income and only 0.5% of the wealth - according to the Office for National Statistics.
    And Labour go after the most vulnerable.. sic
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 days ago
      @Johnny Exactly, and such human damage.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 14 days ago
    Starmer is an imposter who can not be trusted ever again.
    He is a schemer and malicious. He lied to and abuses the past loyalty of the true left. He is in bed with the wicked right wing media and listens to dinosaurs of the past like Blair.

    I would rather give my vote to a shredder then vote Starmers Labour again.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 15 days ago
    Disgusted by Starmer continuing with Tory policies. He does not and never has believed in Labour. He is a Tory who infiltrated Labour 🤬
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 days ago
      @Catherine Deegan Labour have always been harsher on sickness benefits than the Tories 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 16 days ago
    I wrote to my MP  a while back and she has just got back to me in a group email to the people who had emailed her about the welfare reform Bill. She said that a lot of constituents had told her that they are worried about the cuts and that she wasn't happy about that part of the green paper and asked us to fill in a questionnaire that she'd written so she could get an overview of the parts we are unhappy about so that she can go back to the relevant ministers [that she has already spoken with] with a clear statement about what we are worried about and how the cuts will affect us. She took sich a long time to get back to me that I thought that she was ignoring me, I had sent her a 2 page document with footnotes..., but am happy that she is being proactive in dealing with her disabled constituents. 

    That said I can't see myself voting for Labour again with such a cruel tin eared cabinet. I will probably end up spoiling my ballot paper by saying how badly recent governments have treated disabled people. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 17 days ago
    My MP is Yvette Cooper & she certainly would have been voted out if we had been allowed to vote, this is the first time ever her constituency has not been allowed to vote in a local election so I think it shows how much she really values her constituents & most likely is in favour for all the cuts planned
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 17 days ago
      @Sharon They were council elections,so she still would be your MP until the next General Election.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 17 days ago
    I voted for Labour, I always have. But I feel so completely let down by them. I won't be voting Labour again unless they have significant changes in Leadership and in policies.
    So far we've seen the most vulnerable members of our community affected by cuts or proposed cuts. The poor, the elderly, the mental illness suffered, those with chronic pain and disability. 
    I'm actually horrified at the statements and policies. 
    The pip ' reforms' are horrifying to those that suffer chronic illness. The process and interview are so onerous as it is, they need acres of paper verification . 
    I once had to do a review recovering from pneumonia and then the interviewer lied and said I could manage to ultrasound my own back . 

    I have numerous chronic illness . I could never work because pain means I spend much if the time resting in bed. 
    The pip pays for essential vitamins, massage oil, supplements and taxis to health appointments. 
    I'm in so much pain with osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia, and I am now so depressed about the next review and just hope no one misreports  what I say. 
     
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 16 days ago
      @Verena You really need to question your understanding of politics if you even contemplate voting Labour again.


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      · 17 days ago
      @Verena Im in a similar position to you Verena, I have many multiple chronic long term health issues. At 54 I know I’m going to be targeted to go back to work, I worked solidly for 30 years. I simply can’t, return to work, my body is so debilitated, my pain levels are horrendous, and on top of it all I’m having to go through an ESA to UC migration. I’m going to suffer financial disparity even with transitional protection as I’m now having to pay 35% of my council tax and rent, which I wasn’t before. As if disability doesn’t already bring enough stress,  we are being treated like second class citizens. I’ve always voted Labour, after this betrayal, never again. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 17 days ago
      @Verena When you do have to reapply for your PIP and get to speak with someone please let them know that you want it recorded and you want a copy, also get someone to witness the interview
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 17 days ago
      @Verena Verena, I empathise with your needs and how you feel about 'health reviews' and the rest.  I too was completely misrepresented - not once, but twice: a f2f review and then a phone review; the misrepresntation was mind boggling.  I had help from my local disability forum to appeal both of these and I'm happy to tell you that both were overturned!  However, it cannot be stressed enough just how detremental to our health and wellbeing these dreadful reviews are.  Now retired, I worked from age 12 all weekend, and then from 15 full time to pay tax for over 40yrs.  I was completely sidelined in these reviews and made to feel like a liar.  Appalling.  Best Wishes to you. Jan
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 17 days ago
    It seems that both Labour and the Tories are trying to outdo Reform which is ridiculous, especially for Socialists.  Instead of taking money from the most vulnerable , i.e. genuinely sick and elderly people,  they should have put a tax on the wealthy.  A lot of socially minded millionaires agree with this. It seems the Labour party are pandering to big business and the rich at the expense of poorer people in this country. It’s certainly not the Labour Party I remember - I’m 75.  I have a pension from my job and so am not in as a bad a position as a lot of people which I’m grateful for.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 17 days ago
    I have contacted my local MP twice now and have received no response. Surprise!  But still I urge everyone to contact their MP. It may not make a difference but we have to keep trying. Sign as many petitions and share to get the message out. We have to keep on fighting. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 18 days ago
    Wes Streeting to the BBC

    "All I’d say to people, we’ve got the message, we’re not daft, we haven’t got our heads in the sand, all I’d ask people for is to give us a bit of time and to give us the benefit of the doubt"

    At the end of this Mirror article


    Prove it, Wes, cut out the doubt and give us the benefit.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 15 days ago
      @Scorpion Labour are relying on the general public having short memory's, when they vote in four years.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 17 days ago
      @Scorpion voted for change, yes, just not this car crash.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 17 days ago
      @rtbcpart2 "all I’d ask people for is to give us a bit of time and to give us the benefit of the doubt" Yes, dont make me laugh. There is no doubt whatsoever, all on course to effectively damage the health of disabled and sick individuals by inadvertently pushing them into work that's not there, and if was, would be idealistic at best. Fix the economy and then maybe, you'd gain more from taxation via real jobs, paying real wages inline with the cost of living. Oh i know, you can't. Totally deaf as to what's going on in the UK of which  i find incredible. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 17 days ago
      @Scorpion "No, they haven't got the message yet, as they haven't understood that it's what they claim to be delivering that people hate."

      Oh they understand. They are deliberately ignoring us and doing what they want.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 18 days ago
      @Sam @Sam, I love your posts, they make me laugh - in a good way. I tried to up vote this one, but wasn't allowed to - 'false' it said. There's no hiding from them, the tendrils....
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 18 days ago
    Talk in the Guardian of £300 Winter Fuel Payments being altered to include more people.  Not much about £8400 cuts to disability benefits, alas.


    Also:
    Scots Labour MP hits out at UK Government benefit cuts over Parkinson's support

    First minister to 'call out' UK Labour welfare cuts


    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 days ago
      @Jobsworth Zero Today
      "maybe they could take it from somewhere else then ?"

      No, that might mean taxing the wealthiest, and that's clearly unacceptable. Won't someone think of the poor billionaires?

      Well yes, actually, someone will. She's called Rachel Reeves.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 17 days ago
      @tintack maybe they could take it from somewhere else then ?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 17 days ago
      @Anon not forgetting, the millions it will cost them in tribunal cases etc.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 17 days ago
      @tintack Yes, foodbanks, the new growth economy.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 17 days ago
      @SLB Their plough on regardless. Tough decisions remember . What a joke these are.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 19 days ago
    From around the 21st minute of this programme, Robert Peston of ITV talks about the puzzle of why Labour is 'sucking up to Reform voters' rather than going more to the left.



  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 19 days ago
    I think someone else may have already posted this, but I can't find it here, so posting again:

    A Labour MP has said the government "absolutely has to" change course following sweeping gains for Reform UK in England's local elections.

    Rachael Maskell, the MP for York Central, said policies introduced by the government which had not been in its manifesto had forced voters "to look elsewhere".




  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 19 days ago
    Excerpts from this Guardian article:

    'Ministers and Labour MPs are increasingly concerned that No 10 is not worried enough about the risk of losing voters on the left over issues from Gaza to welfare cuts.

    A new poll for the public affairs firm Apella Advisors, conducted by Find Out Now, found last week that the threat of drifting progressive voters was significant. Among Labour 2024 voters, 43% said they would be likely to consider voting Green and 40% Lib Dems. Just 9% said they could consider voting Reform.'

    '

    Louise Haigh: 

    Haigh said it was “obviously completely unacceptable” that child poverty is set to increase, according to the government’s own impact assessment. But she stopped short of saying whether she would vote against the contentious cuts to disability benefit payments.

    “I do worry about a repeat to strategy that [could] mean we keep on cutting money from the sort of ‘bottom of the pile’. So many people joined the Labour party and were inspired by the work of the last Labour government on child poverty.

    “The last thing any Labour government should do is create more poverty and push people actively into poverty.”



  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 19 days ago
    "I think trying to echo reform is a party disaster, because if you try and echo reform, you just make them legitimate and you actually make them stronger."

    "I think we have to deal with issues about welfare payments, about the winter fuel payment, which came up on every door. We need to scrap the cuts and benefits to the disabled. We need to address those things." Diane Abbott.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 19 days ago
      @Scorpion Thanks for your post scorpion, it's encouraging to read the common sense talking of Diane Abbott. The top brass of labour may think she's a loose cannon but she's the only one who seems willing to speak up for us with conviction. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 19 days ago
      @Scorpion Said it before ' "On every door", that's what matters. We must hold firm and be the ones to survive when this government gets its come uppance over this green paper.

      "On every door", Starmer, what part of that message do you not understand? Who is it you think you are working for?

      As @Vic posted a couple of days ago:

      "Are they thick or just in denial hoping things calm down .
      Starmer you need to resign & take your horrible cronies with you .
      Betrayal after Betrayal .
      Oaps winter fuel ,Pip & inhumane decisions your making on the disabled & ill that will cause poverty & deaths .
      The economy you have destroyed .
      You need to change your name from Labour to the incompetent Party .
      Bunch of Amateurs !!!!"

      We get it, the rebel mps get it, the disability rights groups get it, the researchers get it, the media are getting it, and even the electorate who are not directly affected get it - ON EVERY DOOR.

      Ground Control to Starmer, wake up, man.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 19 days ago
    Another semi-positive news article.  .I say "semi-positive" because it predicts a U-turn on Winter Fuel Allowance, but isn't so sure about the PIP cuts
    Labour MPs press Keir Starmer to rethink benefits cuts after local elections
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 17 days ago
      @sara 1 term gov in the making. They have already sealed their fate.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 17 days ago
      @SLB Another newspaper article behind a pay wall.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 19 days ago
      @SLB Seems our optimism is not widely shared, @SLB, but I thought it could be the start of something on which we can build. The Labour leadership might think that with such a huge majority they can treat a few fallen councillors as collateral damage, but that attitude will backfire with a growing number of constituency mps rebelling. Of course we need to keep up the pressure, which you are doing admirably.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 19 days ago
    The FT reports that some labour mps are predicting a u-turn on the winter fuel allowance cut:

    https://www.google.co.uk/url?q=https://www.ft.com/content/8a045ba5-a3fd-42d5-80d7-d2f57347a86d&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjf_rfR5oqNAxULU0EAHe5cGWUQ0PADegQICRAD&usg=AOvVaw27XFtvaRNyh5gDhCtLge_e

    So, following the local.and mayoral elections, there must surely be a re-think on the wider and greater welfare cut proposals.



       


    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 19 days ago
      @tintack That's my fear too.  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 19 days ago
      @tintack
      My thought exactly 💯.  I fully expect they'll do the bare minimum changes to winter fuel to appease the public, pensioners, the right who are so against hitting the Pensioners and the MP's to get them to back down and vote everything else through.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 19 days ago
      @sara
      "So, following the local.and mayoral elections, there must surely be a re-think on the wider and greater welfare cut proposals."

      My fear is they'll do something on the WFA but go ahead with the disability cuts. Partly because a U-turn or partial U-turn on the WFA would be cheaper than on the disability cuts and partly because they're terrified of the right wing press and Reform, who are vociferously opposed to the WFA cut but are all in favour of cuts to disability benefits. If the government backs down on WFA then the right will have what it wants and will be fully supportive of the disability cuts - in fact their only complaint is that those cuts don't go far enough.

      If they try to get away with only backing down on the WFA it will become even more important to keep up the pressure on Labour MPs. At least if they do change the WFA cut they would have to explain why they've decided that it's not OK to hit pensioners after all but clobbering the sick and disabled is still fine. It really needs to be made clear to them that such blatant double standards will cost them at the ballot box, just as it did last week.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 19 days ago
      @sara "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread". 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 19 days ago
    dwp and Alison McGovern: it has “not been possible to estimate the impact of the [overall] package on the level of poverty amongst individuals living in families with a disabled person....However, given the balance of the package we would expect much of the increase in poverty to be focused amongst individuals in this family type.”

    You don't say.

    https://www.google.co.uk/url?q=https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/ministers-are-clueless-on-impact-of-pip-cuts-on-disability-poverty-dwp-admits/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjf_rfR5oqNAxULU0EAHe5cGWUQ0PADegQICRAT&usg=AOvVaw3Kf_nnnestj_1jpN4qt5kR
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 17 days ago
      @keepingitreal News flash: People working also claim PIP.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 19 days ago
      @keepingitreal Yep, families with disabled members, and those disabled members, are going to be affected by disability benefit cuts. Thanks, Alison, for ministersplaining that. We get it, do you, though?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 19 days ago
    Guess what - May 2025 election results were labour's worst local election result in recorded local election history in the UK!

    Good for Keir Starmer and his clowns.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 17 days ago
      @Scorpion always room for more at the big top...guaranteed 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 19 days ago
      @Scorpion
      They clearly need to offer more of what they're already doing.

      Am I doing it right Keir?
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