Middlesbrough MPs Andy McDonald, Luke Myer to vote against PIP

The news comes as one Middlesbrough councillor has told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that he is gathering signatures from his fellow Labour councillors across the Tees Valley, ahead of sending a letter to the Work and Pensions Secretary, calling on the Government to “pause” the proposed personal independence payment (PIP) changes and engage with disabled people and disability rights groups to “rethink these reforms”.

Middlesbrough and Thornaby East Labour MP Andy McDonald has been a vocal critic of the Government’s welfare plans, confirming last month that he would be voting against the proposals as they stand.

Today (Wednesday, June 25), Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP, Labour’s Luke Myer, added his name to an amendment along with more than 120 Labour MPs (including Mr McDonald) aiming to stop the cuts.

The “reasoned amendment” has the ambition of preventing a second reading taking place on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.

In other words, MPs are trying to reject the plans to cut disability and sickness-related benefits payments that would save £5bn a year by 2030.

A defiant Angela Rayner spoke at Prime Minister Questions in place of Sir Keir Starmer today, and confirmed that a vote on the bill will take place on Tuesday, July 1.

Mr Myer’s statement said that in March, he welcomed the Government’s decision to look at the workings of the welfare system.

“But when the detail of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill was finally published, it became clear that the legislation does not yet meet the promises the Government itself made,” he said.

“That’s why I’ve supported an amendment declining to give the bill a second reading – asking the Government to go back and get it right.”

Mr Myer argues that the bill has not been through “meaningful consultation”, and he called on the Government “to go back to the drawing board” and “work with disabled people”.

He concluded by saying: “I still believe that changing the system matters — but how we do it matters just as much.”

Luke Henman, councillor for Acklam, has written to his fellow Labour councillors across the Tees Valley, gaining signatories to a letter that he plans to send to Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary. 

The letter voices support for “much” of the Government’s proposed welfare reforms, but goes on to say that nationally, the PIP policy being pursued by the Government risks pushing 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children.

The letter adds: “These changes will have wider impacts too. Across the Tees Valley, an estimated £115 million would be ripped out of the local economy as a result of changes to PIP. We will no doubt see further pressure placed on our NHS and local government services in our area too.”

The letter also says: “Local people rely on support from PIP to pay for care and manage the impacts of their disabilities – for many, it keeps them in work and living independently.” A growing number of councillors are signing Cllr Henman’s letter that urges a rethink from central government.