31 h. ago A quarter of Brits now say they are DISABLED as number soars by 40 per cent in a decade to almost 17 million amid row over benefit cuts

Some 16.8 million people say they have a mental or physical impairment that 'causes substantial difficulty' in their day-to-day life, according to government data.

Politics

54 h. ago Rachel Reeves' 'clumsy' Labour deputy makes grovelling apology for comparing disabled benefits cuts to reducing a child's pocket money 

Darren Jones admitted that he had been 'tactless' when he compared the drive to get millions of people back into work to telling a teen to get a weekend job instead of accepting a handout.

Politics

4 d. ago ‘I’m terrified’: Disabled benefit claimants on the impact of Labour’s £5 billion cuts to welfare

Welfare recipients tell The Independent what losing their health-related benefits would mean to them

Economics

4 d. ago This government has one last chance to take a progressive path. Otherwise, we’re at the point of no return | John McDonnell

In her spring statement, I urge Rachel Reeves to look beyond short-term economic stability – and towards tackling long-term inequalityIf someone read out the following list of policies, which party would you think was in power? Depriving 2 million pensioners of the winter fuel allowance. Refusing to scrap the two-child benefit cap to lift nearly half a million children out of poverty. Raising tuition fees for students by more than the rate of inflation. Cutting overseas aid to the poorest people across the globe by half. Cutting £5bn from benefits for disabled people. Introducing a new round of cuts to government department spending and laying off 50,000 public sector workers.I very much doubt even 12 months ago you would have thought that this would be the Labour party in government.John McDonnell is the independent MP for Hayes and Harlington. He was shadow chancellor for Labour from 2015 to 2020 Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Scope chair 'willing to resign' over speaking out against Labour Government's cuts to disability benefits

Writing for the Standard, Sir Robin Millar described the welfare reforms as “disgraceful” and said Labour had lost its “moral direction”

Politics

1 week ago Liz Kendall unveils UK benefits cuts set to leave many sick and disabled worse off

Welfare secretary announces changes aimed at cutting bill by up to £5bn in face of opposition from Labour MPsUK politics live – latest updatesLiz Kendall, the welfare secretary, has faced down angry Labour MPs to unveil drastic cuts to the UK’s benefits system that will leave many sick and disabled claimants worse off.The measures, which the government argues are needed to “fix the broken benefits system” and balance the nation’s books, are expected to cut £5bn from the benefits bill by the end of the decade. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer insists there is a 'moral case' for cutting disabled benefits as he faces mounting rebellion from Labour backbenchers over plan to save £5bn

The Prime Minister denied Britain would be 'returning to austerity' under changes designed to save £5billion and get hundreds of thousands of people back into work.

Economics

2 w. ago No10 'shocked' by scale of Labour fury at plans for £5bn benefits cut and 'adding safeguards for disabled' as Rachel Reeves desperately tries to avoid civil war while balancing books

An announcement on the measures had been expected yesterday, but has been delayed until next week amid a major operation to win over backbench sceptics.

Events

2 w. ago Labour MP clashes with Keir Starmer over DWP benefits cuts plan

Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced anger form his own Labour benches at PMQs over reports the Government is planning huge cuts to benefits - including those for disabled people

Politics

2 w. ago Labour rebel ‘couldn’t look my mum in the eyes’ and vote for Starmer’s welfare cuts

Divisions in the Labour Party are emerging over plans to cut benefits for the long term sick and disabled

Politics

2 w. ago Voices: I know how to get sick and disabled people back to work

The government’s proposed ‘ruthless’ cuts to the welfare payments won’t fix our broken benefits system, says disability rights campaigner Kamran Mallick – instead, some targeted investments would actually pay dividends

Politics

3 w. ago Government's £6billion benefits crackdown: Sick and disabled face huge cuts as Rachel Reeves scrambles to curb soaring welfare bill

Some £5billion of the savings will come from making it harder for people to qualify for Personal Independence Payments - a benefit designed to help with the extra costs caused by disabilities.

Economics