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PIP cuts latest: 127 rebel Labour MPs, Tory offer, Starmer unmoving, Timms on TV

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Tuesday saw more Labour rebels sign the amendment which aims to kill the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.

The total number of signatories is now 134, which includes:

  • 127 Labour MPs (including two suspended)
  • 5 DUP MPs
  • 2 independent MPs

There’s a full alphabetical list at the end of this article.

It’s also been suggested that one Labour MP has removed their name from the amendment as whips and ministers pile pressure on rebels to get back into line, though we haven’t identified which MP this might be.  Update:  one name missing from the latest list is Samantha Niblett, the Labour MP for South Derbyshire.

Tory offer to support the bill

Kemi Badenoch offered to give Tory support to the beleaguered bill, but with three conditions:

  • Reduce the cost of welfare more than this bill does
  • Get more people into work
  • Guarantee no new tax rises in the Autumn

Labour rejected the offer in what appeared to be an ugly and unprincipled episode of bartering with the lives of disabled claimants.

London mayor backs rebels

London mayor, Sadiq Khan, has called on the government to drop the bill until a proper system of support has been put in place, arguing: 

“I have always said that more must be done to support people to go from relying on benefits to getting back into work. It’s vital for a healthy and prosperous London. What we can’t do is take away the vital safety net that so many vulnerable and disabled Londoners rely upon.”

Starmer unmoving

Keir Starmer is refusing to give ground to the Labour rebels.  He told reporters yesterday “We’re pressing on with a vote on this because we need to bring about reform.”

Elsewhere, there are rumours he is considering postponing next Tuesday's vote in order to gain time to win rebels round.

Timms to face work and pensions committee

Stephen Timms, the DWP disability minister currently working on rewriting the PIP eligibility criteria, is to face questioning by the commons work and pensions committee from 9.43am today.  You can watch him on parliament tv

Full alphabetical list of the MPs who have signed the amendment

Abbott, Ms Diane

Abrahams, Debbie

Al-Hassan, Sadik

Ali, Tahir

Allin-Khan, Dr Rosena

Arthur, Dr Scott

Baker, Richard

Bance, Antonia

Barker, Paula

Barron, Lee

Beales, Danny

Beavers, Lorraine

Begum, Apsana

Betts, Mr Clive

Billington, Ms Polly

Bishop, Matt

Blake, Olivia

Brash, Mr Jonathan

Burgon, Richard

Burke, Maureen

Butler, Dawn

Byrne, Ian

Cadbury, Ruth

Campbell, Mr Gregory  (DUP)

Coleman, Ben

Collinge, Lizzi

Cooper, Andrew

Cooper, Dr Beccy

Craft, Jen

Creasy, Ms Stella

Davies, Paul

De Cordova, Marsha

Dean, Josh

Dhesi, Mr Tanmanjeet Singh

Dixon, Anna

Duffield, Rosie (Independent)

Duncan-Jordan, Neil

Easton,  Alex (Independent NI)

Eastwood, Colum

Eastwood, Sorcha

Eccles, Cat

Edwards, Lauren

Efford, Clive

Ellis, Maya

Entwistle, Kirith

Eshalomi, Florence

Evans, Chris

Fenton-Glynn, Josh

Ferguson, Patricia

Foster, Mr Paul

Foxcroft, Vicky

Francis, Daniel

Furniss, Gill

Gardner, Dr Allison

Gilbert, Tracy

Gwynne,  Andrew (Labour suspended)

Hack, Amanda

Haigh, Louise

Hall, Sarah

Hamilton, Fabian

Hamilton, Paulette

Hanna, Claire

Hayes, Helen

Hillier, Dame Meg

Hinchliff, Chris

Hume, Alison

Hurley, Patrick

Hussain, Imran

Jermy, Terry

Jogee, Adam

Johnson, Kim

Jones, Lillian

Jones, Ruth

Kelly Foy, Mary

Khan, Afzal

Lamb, Peter

Lavery, Ian

Leishman, Brian

Lewell, Emma

Lewis, Clive

Lockhart, Carla (DUP)

Long Bailey, Rebecca

Maskell, Rachael

McDonald, Andy

McDonnell, John  (Labour suspended)

McKenna, Kevin

Midgley, Anneliese

Mishra, Navendu

Mohamed, Abtisam

Morris, Grahame

Mullane, Margaret

Myer, Luke

Naish, James

Naismith, Connor

Newbury, Josh

Nichols, Charlotte

Onn, Melanie

Opher, Dr Simon

Osamor, Kate

Osborne, Kate

Owen, Sarah

Paffey, Darren

Pitcher, Lee

Platt, Jo

Quigley, Mr Richard

Qureshi, Yasmin

Ranger, Andrew

Rhodes, Martin

Ribeiro-Addy, Bell

Riddell-Carpenter, Jenny

Rimmer, Ms Marie

Robertson, Dave

Robinson, Gavin (DUP)

Rushworth, Sam

Shah, Naz

Shannon, Jim (DUP)

Smith, Cat

Sobel, Alex

Stainbank, Euan

Stewart, Elaine

Sullivan, Kirsteen

Swann, Robin

Trickett, Jon

Tufnell, Henry

Turner, Laurence

Vaughan, Tony

Webb, Chris

Western, Matt

Whittome, Nadia

Williams, David

Wilson,  Sammy (DUP)

Witherden, Steve

Yang, Yuan

Yasin, Mohammad

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Pixelmum
    · 1 days ago
    I tried to watch Timms but I had to turn it off, I couldnt stand listening to the lies.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    john
    · 1 days ago
    Before the summer recess the government hopes to announce the terms of reference for the consultation on the new PIP assessment system, that will be introduced in the future, possibly by 2028 when the WCA is abolished.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Wayne
    · 1 days ago
    There must be a fair a way to save money and not attack disabled people the 4 point pip is worse thing to do 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    john
    · 1 days ago
    The government repeats the mantras that people are incentivised to claim LCWRA, that mental health claimants have increased and that work is good for mental health so often I am surprised they have not proposed mandatory work placements and turning psychiatric hospitals into workhouses to cure the ill. Or if I am being cynical who the government is in effect portraying as malingering feckless.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Gingin
    · 1 days ago
    Keep emailing MPs! Those on the other side of the argument might be doing the same. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    James
    · 1 days ago
    So what we really have are two nasty sets of leaders in both parties completely out of touch with reality and attacking the sick and disabled much like the 1930s in Germany! These people like Kemi are the worst of power seekers who think they are going to ride to power on hate. This is not the British way and these are not our values! This is fascism pure and simple!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Anon
    · 1 days ago
    Why only 127 Labour MPs have signed? Where are the Lib Dem MPs? This is an absolute catastrophe. Please lobby more MPs to sign it, it's urgent
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Gingin
      · 1 days ago
      @Anon
      The Lib Dems have said they’re opposed from the beginning. Today in parliament (reported by Guardian Politics Live):

      Daisy Cooper, the deputy Lib Dem leader, says her party is opposed to the welfare bill. The government may have to push it through with Tory support, she claims.

      She asks for an assurance that these reforms will not be implemented, if the bill passes, until the review of the carers’ allowance scandal has concluded.

      Rayner defends the bill, but does not address the question.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    tintack
    · 1 days ago
    It's useful to have DUP signatories. As a right wing party they might have backed the cuts, though they don't seem to be quite as right wing on the subject of benefits as on many other issues. They may only have a few MPs, but the more MPs and parties oppose the cuts the better.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Cuckoo21
    · 1 days ago
    I really hope, Keir starmer doesn't take kemi up on her offer. Just when I thought we were getting somewhere 😔. I wouldn't put it past Keir. What does everyone else think?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Lloyd S
    · 1 days ago
    The more MPs that add their names to list, Kier starmer and co will look the odd ones out by insisting on ploughing ahead. My MP has signed and I have just sent a thank you email to her for doing so. Everyone who's MP has and adds their name should do the same as the issue isn't going away whatever the government thinks!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    john
    · 1 days ago
    Timms mentions safeguarding is important. But the government is unwilling to enact the UN convention of rights of disabled persons into UK law so the government can be held to account. Is unwilling to impose a statutory duty of care on the DWP so the DWP and it's employees can be held to account if they fail to follow safeguarding procedures. Is unwilling to monitor the fates of claimants and ex claimants to see if government policy results in a increase in hospitalisations and deaths, so parliament and the nation can be made aware if harm is being caused.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Leah
    · 1 days ago
    I'm half hoping he will press on with the vote and that his own arrogance will see him defeated. At least it would all be over for a while. I do not want them to delay and then put some half baked concessions in place, that may persuade just enough weak MP's, but ultimately, mean very little.

    More delays mean more stress and uncertainty, which has been going on since before the election with the whole tories voucher nonsense etc. We know that should this get defeated, there will be some sort of re hash and/or even worse proposals under the next government. Is there a time when the ill and disabled are actually allowed to feel safe? Or is it a condition of being ill/disabled that you have to be constantly on edge, not just with your health, but with those who wish to throw you off a cliff for political gain?




    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 23 hours ago
      @Leah
      "Yes, I agree here. But do we really think Starmer will allow the vote if he knows he will lose? I can't see that under normal circumstances. However, has he forced himself into a corner where he has to allow the vote to take place or lose all credibility?"

      If he knows he's certain to lose then presumably it will be pulled , though when this happens it tends not to be pulled until the last minute. That said, they can't really know if they're certain to lose - they may believe that however much the numbers seem to be against them, a lot of the rebels won't actually vote against the government when push comes to shove. If that's what they think then they may go ahead with the vote now, though of course if they do that and  it turns out their calculation is wrong then they will lose the vote, so it would be a hell of a gamble to take. 

      "I don't know the answer, but it worries me that he may know something we all don't. The fact that we aren't sure of how the tories will vote brings more anxiety to the table. I'm guessing against, since their conditions cannot be met, but no one can be sure."

      After today it sounds as though the Tories will vote against. No, we can't be sure, but none of Badenoch's three conditions have been met and her "offer" of help has been rejected by the government. I suppose they could abstain, but that does not benefit them, whereas voting against gives them a rare chance to defeat the government.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Leah
      · 1 days ago
      @tintack Yes, I agree here. But do we really think Starmer will allow the vote if he knows he will lose? I can't see that under normal circumstances. However, has he forced himself into a corner where he has to allow the vote to take place or lose all credibility? 

      I don't know the answer, but  it worries me that he may know something we all don't. The fact that we aren't sure of how the tories will vote brings more anxiety to the table. I'm guessing against, since their conditions cannot be met, but no one can be sure.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 1 days ago
      @Barneyboy The bill itself needs to be dumped, yes, but just pulling the vote will not necessarily do that. They may just delay the vote and try again in the autumn, hoping in the meantime to buy off enough rebels with meaningless concessions. That's why, if the vote is delayed, we have to keep up the pressure on Labour MPs and urge them not to be taken in by whatever nonsense the government might try. No-one really expects the government to offer concessions which are in any way meaningful - the only concessions that matter are scrapping the PIP descriptor changes and scrapping the linking of UC Health Element to a PIP-type assessment, and no-one thinks they are going to offer either of those. Any bill which includes either of those changes, let alone both, has to be fought tooth and nail. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Barneyboy
      · 1 days ago
      @tintack The sooner this bill is pulled the better. Yes is so damm arrogant and full of it but enough torture for us. I think he is as good as history anyhow. The very fact that what his intent was is enough to sink him anyway within his own party and at the ballot box with the public. He got ahead of himself and the power went to his head. The minute I hear this bill is pulled I’ll be have a pint to celebrate the end of this mental torture.  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 1 days ago
      @Leah
      "I'm half hoping he will press on with the vote and that his own arrogance will see him defeated. At least it would all be over for a while. I do not want them to delay and then put some half baked concessions in place, that may persuade just enough weak MP's, but ultimately, mean very little."

      That's why we need to keep up the pressure on Labour MPs. If the vote is delayed we need to make sure they don't get bought off by meaningless concessions. To be fair, they did seem to see through Kendall's previous (non-)concessions, but we have to keep up the pressure to make sure they don't get taken in by whatever other nonsense the government might try.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Kevin
    · 1 days ago
    Name and shame those that buckle under the pressure of the dictator Starmer. 

    He’s talking about regime change in Iran due to a dictatorial regime, well we the British people are doing the same with him and his dreadful government. Plus the torries showing their true colours with deals on the lives of disabled and mentally ill people, while the liberals as usual stay quite to see who wins but never helping the most vulnerable, also don’t forget if Reform had their way we would all be put in camps like the model they follow from the 1930s and 40s Germany. 

    It genuinely feels overwhelming at the moment, we the disabled, chronically ill and mentally ill are not even second class citizens and politicians chess pieces to move around their blame game board for their own benefit and amusement. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Kevin
    · 1 days ago
    The Conservatives and Starmer trying to strike a deal to get what they both want at the sake of the most vulnerable in our society is sickening, it’s sociopathic behaviour. 

    Everyday living with a disability or mental health condition is hell, its constant hard work that everyday people can’t comprehend, then add all the life stresses on top and then then you’re made to feel like you’re the problem with society and why the economy is failing, we are easy scape goats for these dreadful politicians who as is proven time and time again have no skills to actually run a country. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Kitty
      · 1 days ago
      @Kevin Sadly, a promise of no tax increase would see many in the general population happy to turn a blind eye to the fate of disabled people, I suppose we're lucky Starmer isn't agreeing to those terms. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Leah
    · 1 days ago
    I'm assuming all the bill will be voted for or against, and not just parts of it? It's a shame because the right to try work would be a welcome amendment. If labour are genuinely against 'trapping' people on benefits, then this legislation could at least be implemented, even if the rest of it fails. I can't see anyone objecting to that. 

    I'm too ill to work right now, and had a health crash after trying volunteering to see if I was ready to return to work. Whoops, obviously not! Eventually I hope to get back to work, and it would be nice to know my safety net will not be immediately removed should my health not tolerate it.

    I was lucky that I wasn't reported whilst volunteering. Mind you, I only lasted 5 weeks and crashed so hard that I ended up bed bound. I realise that for many, work will not be an option, but no one should be punished for trying. However, they are, and in my opinion, THIS is how benefits trap you. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Anon
      · 1 days ago
      @Leah I agree. The Right To Try Guarantee is essential to de-risk trying work and eliminate the welfare trap.

      We need the Right To Try Guarantee. But the rest of the paper is harmful.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    john
    · 1 days ago
    How is trotting out Sir Stephen (I never give a clear answer, and just repeat the same talking points) Timms yet again going to allay MPs fears. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Pickle
    · 1 days ago
    It’s really perplexing that anyone would sign and drop out, given the act of signing in the first place is going to blacklist them with Starmer snd that caving in is not going to endear them to constituents. It doesn’t give a very good inpression!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      James
      · 9 hours ago
      @Pickle A career politician would who has no backbone. I hope her constituency never re-elects her

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