LABOUR’S WELFARE BILL ‘A TOTAL JOKE’, SAYS LOCAL MSP Kaukab Stewart.
After a long night of dither and delay in the House of Commons, all Glasgow Labour MP’s voted for Labour’s Welfare Bill – which pushes any proposed cut to PIP to the end of 2026, leaving disabled people in limbo.
The bill had initially proposed to slash eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a move which the government’s own analysis showed would remove support from 800,000 people by the end of the decade – but now promises a ‘review’ of PIP at the end of 2026.
In Scotland, the SNP Government had committed to protect disabled people from these cuts by protecting the Adult Disability Payment, Scotland’s equivalent of PIP, from any reductions – though Labour’s cut would have had a knock-on impact on Scotland’s budget.
Local SNP MSP Kaukab Stewart has said Labour must now apologise to disabled people for keeping them in limbo. SNP MPs voted against Labour’s austerity measures.
Commenting, local SNP MSP Kaukab Stewart said:
“This Welfare Bill has been a disaster from the start – Labour have gone from ignoring disabled people to changing the Bill minutes before the vote – that is a total joke, and no way to run a country.
“But by voting for this bill in its amended form, Glasgow Labour MP’s are only making that uncertainty for disabled people worse, by delaying any clarity on PIP until the end of 2026.
“Labour have shown their true colours here – any cut to PIP will be devastating for disabled people who rely on these payments to live and work – which is why the SNP pledged to protect these payments here in Scotland.
“With the limited powers of the Scottish Parliament, we can step in to protect disabled people here in Glasgow, and across Scotland – just imagine what we could do with the full powers of independence.”
