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Over 100 disabled public figures begin campaign to stop PIP cuts

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Over 100 disabled public figures have begun a campaign to stop the planned cuts to personal independence payment (PIP) by writing an open letter to Keir Starmer.  They have told the prime minister they “will not stand by while our community is sacrificed for the illusion of savings. We urge the Government to stop #TakingThePIP”.

Signatories to the letter include Rosie Jones, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Liz Carr, Tom Shakespeare, Ruth Madeley and Cherylee Houston.

The open letter to Starmer begins:

 “We, a collective of Deaf, Disabled and/or Neurodivergent (DDN) people with public profiles, write urgently on behalf of our community to demand that the government withdraw its inhumane and catastrophic plans to cut disability benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the health-related component of Universal Credit.”

It goes on to warn that:

“The proposed cuts will:

  • Strip financial support from those who need it most
  • Push hundreds of thousands of families deeper into poverty
  • Reduce access to care, equipment, transport, and basic needs
  • Overwhelm councils, which rely on PIP assessments for social care
  • Remove eligibility for Carer’s Allowance from thousands of unpaid carers
  • Deepen social exclusion and increase disability-related deaths”

You can visit the group’s website and read the letter in full at https://takingthepip.co.uk

 

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    MATT
    · 13 hours ago
    Hi all, just a quick note. Parliament comes back from the Whitsun recess on Monday 2 June at 2:30.  I think we'll find out then what the Parliamentary business is and when they plan to have a vote on the Green Paper.  Hopefully B & W will keep us informed of developments.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    gingin
    · 1 days ago
    Arg, my last post got cut off. I was saying I was thinking some more about the MP at the listening briefing today who said that there had been a bit of 'fear mongering'. The reason for our fear is the continual obfuscation by Labour. The details we do see only point to bad news for welfare claimants. I wonder whether he expects us all to trust in the paternal instincts of the Labour leadership and take a 'wait and see' approach until after the legislation is passed? Perhaps he can afford to be naive, as his life won't be affected by these cuts. Until the next election, that is. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Old Mother
      · 16 hours ago
      @gingin Yes or trying to salve his conscience - I expect we will see others trying to justify support for these cuts by blaming those whose lives will be effected.  

      Remember them when it’s time to vote.  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Frances
      · 22 hours ago
      @gingin @gingin, please bring up, if you can, two issues recently posted under the previous B&W article, re the unclarified status of pensioners and pip cuts, and what could be the impact of abolishing 2 child uc cap on other benefits if the overall benefit cap is not raised.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      SLB
      · 23 hours ago
      @gingin It's utterly bonkers.  They have given us nothing to reassure us that we will somehow not suffer.  What they should have done was have the consultation and THEN  announced any changes - but that wouldn't have given them the freedom to run roughshod over us.  If the consultation was done first, then they might be able to show how transitional protection might work, or how not being in LCWRA group would work for us not able to work. Instead, we have thousands of pounds being whipped out from under us and no known safety net.  Although, to be fair, that net will need reinforcements. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Dez
      · 1 days ago
      @gingin Agreed. There would be less "fearmongering" if they actually communicated with disabled people instead of saying one thing and then doing something completely different. Like they've always claimed they're "listening to disabled people" and look what we've ended up with when it comes to this Green Paper, where it seems the only disabled people they've listened to are the kind who read The Telegraph and openly say people with mental disabilities should lose out so that they can sit pretty. 

      (As a side note to that: how is that working out for them? "Leopards would never eat MY face!" doesn't even begin to cover it.)

      And now they're pulling the same stunt by saying they're "listening" to us all over again while they blatantly don't listen to us and - in Kendall's case - breeze past concerned PIP claimants in the street with a big ol' smile on her face. 

      Yes, we feel very seen. rolls eyes
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    gingin
    · 1 days ago
    I've been asked by a Guardian journalist to do a phone interview and also an in person interview at my home. I agreed to the phone interview only - next week. 

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Welsh val
      · 10 hours ago
      @gingin Thank you 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Slb
      · 10 hours ago
      @gingin Nice one!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Old Mother
      · 16 hours ago
      @gingin Thank you for the work you are doing. It is more inspirational than our politicians. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Anniesmum
    · 1 days ago
    I saw a post on x asking questions that can be sent to our MPs or relevant people. I have posted them here- incase people want to use them, the original writer has said it’s fine for people to use them and share them.

    Q1. Why isn't the proposed 4 point rule change being consulted on in the public consultation?

    Q2. Why are some Labour MPs saying that only 10% of people receiving PIP will be affected from November 2026 When a Freedom of Information request shows that upto 1.4 million people in receipt of PIP will lose their award?

    Q3. We are constantly hearing Liz Kendall saying that the changes are aimed at getting a million 16-25 year olds who are currently not in work and claiming benefits into work. When information provided by the DWP shows that the number of under 25 year olds claiming UC (out of work) and or ESA is 659,849? This is 10% of those claiming those benefits.

    Q4. We have heard Liz Kendall, Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves say that under the proposed changes that each PIP case would be looked at on an individual basis?
     This isn't possible as the PIP application and review process is based on a point scoring basis and not the individual. To do it on an individual basis would require a Dr, Psychologist, Physiotherapist, Consultant who specialise in each and every type of disability.

    Q5. Do you believe as Liz Kendall has said that people are taking the mickey when it comes to disability benefits?

    Q6. If you do believe people are taking the mickey, why is it that according to the DWPs own figures the amount of fraud is so low that it measures it at 0%?

    Q7. Do you think it is fair that someone who can wash their torso with a flannel but has to have their partner shave them because they are unable to do it themselves due to hand tremors, as in my case, doesn't score 4pts and would potentially lose their daily living award? 

    Q8. Under the DWP figures 1,404,000 claimants in receipt of the standard Daily Living allowance have less than 4 points in all activities. Out of this group 920,000 are aged 50+. Out of those who receive the enhanced Daily Living allowance 254,000 wouldn't score 4 points. How can it be right to tell these people that they are no longer disabled in the eyes of the government?
    How do they pay for their psychologist, pay their rent/mortgage, bills, food?    

    Q9. Why is the government sitting on a report that was commissioned by the last government into the effects of cutting welfare specifically on those in receipt of disability benefits?   

    Q10. How can it be correct for MPs to vote on the proposed welfare cuts without knowing what the actual outcomes will be to the individuals involved financially, on their physical/mental health and the cost to the NHS?

    Q11. Keir Starmer has said that he will look at giving people time to adjust to losing their benefits so they can apply for different financial support. What financial support?

    Q12. 1.6 million people are currently unemployed in the U.K. as of April there were 761,000 job vacancies. How does adding potentially up another 1,000,000+ to the unemployment figure out of which the majority will be 50+ years old make sense?

    I urge you to persuade Keir Starmer, Liz Kendall and Rachel Reeves to reverse the planned cuts.
    If it goes to a vote that you vote against and not abstain.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      rookie
      · 6 hours ago
      @john @john - Lies, damned lies and statistics.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      john
      · 13 hours ago
      @Anniesmum Q2 The 10% figure could 

      OBR March 2025 forecast
      "The behavioural response significantly reduces the estimated number of people who lose
      the PIP daily living component to 800,000 (16 per cent of those receiving the daily living
      component), with 400,000 of these leaving the PIP caseload entirely due to not receiving the
      mobility component"

      So 400,00 no longer receive PIP. (If you misrepresent the additional 400,000 who get PIP mobility but lose their daily living component and so from 2028 UC health as well, as unaffected)
      Data published by the DWP.
      13% (209,000) get fewer than 4 points in all activities. 
      This of course relies on completely ignoring all those on standard rate daily living component who will be affected. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Moose
      · 1 days ago
      @Anniesmum Thank you for posting this. I’m gonna borrow it.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Anniesmum
    · 1 days ago
    APPG on Poverty and Inequality and the Equality Trust are releasing their report in the next couple of weeks. Hopefully it will be out before the vote in parliament.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      gingin
      · 1 days ago
      @Anniesmum Yes, this is good news. I received an email from them thanking me for my evidence. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Yorkie Bard
    · 1 days ago
    Excellent article

    I wish I could remember who said on here that the photographers were ganging up on "poor" Liz.

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      rtbcpart2
      · 6 hours ago
      @Yorkie Bard Yorkie Bard  Thing is, it's the witches doing the hunting now 😯
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Yorkie Bard
      · 14 hours ago
      @rtbcpart2 rtbcpart2 - they say you should be careful of what you wish for!

      BBC news article today -  politics and witches.


    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Dez
      · 1 days ago
      @Yorkie Bard Poor woman. This article is especially enlightening considering there were quite a few vile people on X accusing her of being a "scrounger" and asking why she wasn't at work instead of confronting Kendall.

      Not that they'd be justified in saying so even if she wasn't in employment since PIP isn't an out of work benefit but it's funny that she's proved these despicable naysayers - some of whom have probably not worked as hard as her in a day as she has all her life - wrong. You tell them, girl!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      rtbcpart2
      · 1 days ago
      @Yorkie Bard @Slb, I accidentally referred to you as "she". Sorry!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      rtbcpart2
      · 1 days ago
      @Yorkie Bard @Yorkie Bard Ha, ha. @Slb said she thought Liz Kendall looked like she'd swallowed a wasp, and I replied "She does always look like that these days! Maybe it's a conspiracy of cameramen. She makes me think of the wicked witch of the west."
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    SLB
    · 1 days ago
    This is a welcome intervention, not least because it bumps the issue back up in the news agenda, although I find it strange that more paralympians and disability sports personalities haven't got involved in one campaign or another.  Or have i missed something somewhere?  But, at least the letter has resulted in several news stories:

    https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/may/27/disabled-celebrities-urge-keir-starmer-scrap-inhumane-benefit-cuts



  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Yorkie Bard
    · 1 days ago
    I've just had an email from Richard Burgon MP via Change.org 

    Richard Burgon MP, who has come out strong against benefit cuts, has organised an online event on 16th June entitled 

    "For Wealth Taxes, Not Cuts"

    Please follow this link if you are interested - it's free / or donation - but you have to register before hand.

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Ann
    · 1 days ago
    This is brilliant news, a load of high profile personalities with disabilities who know what it's like to suffer, making their voices heard and giving weight to our campaign, this is just what we need. Things are starting to step up a pace. Surely Starmer, Reeves, Kendall and Timms will start to take notice now..........? 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Helen Galloway
    · 1 days ago
    It’s a all coming together pressure mounting 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Dave Dee
    · 1 days ago
    I have to ask how far does this saga go? Will the Unions contemplate strike action? None of this needed to happen, there are other ways to make money but Labour in their Blairite wisdom decides to balance the books off of the backs of some of the most vulnerable people in Britain. 

    This whole saga will get laid at Labour's front door but always remember that Reform want harder and further cuts, Farage is not a friend of the disabled and his buddy Starmer isn't either. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Yorkie Bard
      · 9 hours ago
      @Dave Dee Dave Dee Perhaps the Public and Commercial Services Union (they represent DWP staff) would help?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    John O'Shea
    · 1 days ago
    Any labour MPs voting for these cuts knowing the devastation it will cause to the disabled should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.disabled people do not deserve to be used as Scape goats to sort out the economy -this is people's life's behaviour are talking about.adding financial hardship to an already challenging existence as a disabled person is indefensible.

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Old Mother
      · 16 hours ago
      @John O'Shea And it won’t sort out the economy. It’s taking money out of the productive economy and putting it into the black hole of government spending. 

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