Labour doubles down on slashing billions from DWP's disability benefits bill

here’s the mirror link for anyone wanting to read

https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/dwp-benefits-changes-launched-54-34589279

I have to ask those saying that Labour will have to pass legislation before enacting any of these disturbing rumours their reasoning behind

for example when the tories wanted to launch major reforms to the uc there was a (too short) public constitution and then a couple of months to read through the responses and then they announced their decision………I don’t believe they required any bill or legislation to enact the reforms (and in the end a few months before the GE they wanted to change details on that said reform)

I’m not an expect on bills and legislation and when they are legally needed so you all could be right (someone mentioned a green paper than a white paper would need to be published before any reforms to welfare payments and criteria which makes sense - but I do worry the likes of reeves will believe the existence of the ‘get Britain working’ white paper allows them to fast forward things)

I don’t think consultations are a legal requirement before a gov announces final details to reforms - and even if it was the pip consultation process is complete and ready to move to the next step any day (the wca consultation will run for 12 weeks from the end of march then probably responses considered for another 2-4 months - so that process will be completed sept to nov 2025)

But even if legislation is required this Labour gov has a massive majority. Even if tories/reform vote against (which would only be for reasons of spit if Labour plans are confirmed to be crueler than their own ones a year back) then you’d need a minimum of around a 75 Labour rebellion to down the bill in a vote of 2nd/3rd reading (that’s a massive rebellion needed in a vote that will be probably 3 line whipped and threats of the whip removed……….we are only 8 months into a 5yr term so basically it’s too early to have this level of descent- and if the tories swallow their pride on this and decide voting against only aids reform ‘game over’ is a cert) and lords will only be able to slow things down so much - the bill would reach royal assent in 6-18 months

If legislation is required of course

as I said before what will tip the scales will be the level of public backlash and/or number of legal cases taken up against the gov/dwp (if any)

personally it would be wise for the disabled community to identify the 100-200 Labour MP most likely to listen and/or sympathise with our situation and start writing/emailing even if they aren’t your mp

Right now the disabled community needs powerful allies (prehaps someone should try and get hold of Esther Rantzen - she has single handedly bent starmer round her finger and her fears have indirectly thrown the disabled under the bus (if you are paying attention to another bill) - my petty self thinks she owes us some support)

sorry, off topic, rant over

I think this is the video. Watching this has put my mind at rest.

I don't know how to make the link clicky.

https://youtu.be/Damd6GJapx0?si=l18LNFkPw4tN-yv9

What brilliant ideas Catherine! I'm with you : ))))

Those rules changed in April 2017 so that's nothing new.

I say again - I think you would need to identify 100-200 Labour MPs to target with your efforts if you & others are really serious about this type of action

Some Labour MPs are just too right wing to turn

And ministers would be a huge win to get on side however as they are on the gov payroll they have to vote with the gov or lose their job and potentially the whip - identifying any of payroll who you think could be encouraged to rebel would be hugely difficult due to mp sense of self preservation

(not impossible but you’d need to research profiles and make a very solid plan of action)

I don’t know how serious the few members mentioning ‘taking a stand’ of sorts are but if it turns into a wider goal in the scope forum (if scope moderators are instructed to stop activism plans being discussed in detail on this forum - you may need to more locations online if that’s the case) then feel free to pm me and I’ll be happy to loan my research skills (I love a spreadsheet) but I don’t think talk has reached that serious a level yet (some of you may be waiting till the green paper is released before launching anything)