Labour MP launches petition against Green Paper benefits cuts
BENEFITS AND WORK
A sitting Labour MP – though possibly not for much longer – has launched a petition against his own party’s benefits cuts.
Richard Burgon, Labour MP for Leeds east since 2015 and a shadow minister under Jeremy Corbyn, started the petition four days ago on the change.org platform. It calls for the Green Paper benefits cuts to be axed and replaced by a wealth tax. It reads:
This petition, demanding a Wealth Tax instead of devastating cuts to disability support, will be presented in the House of Commons before any votes on welfare cuts.
We oppose the Government’s plan to balance the books by targeting disabled people and the most disadvantaged in our society.
Slashing disability benefits instead of taxing extreme wealth is a political choice—and it is the wrong choice.
Instead, we believe that the very wealthiest should be made to pay their fair share.
A 2% Wealth Tax on assets over £10 million could raise up to £24 billion per year. That’s far more than the £5 billion the Government claims it will “save” by cutting key financial support for disabled people.
We call on the Government to abandon these cruel cuts and, instead of punishing the poorest, to implement a Wealth tax on the very wealthiest.
By this morning it had gathered 18,000 signatures.
You can sign Richard Burgon’s petition against benefits cuts here
This article (Labour MP launches petition against Green Paper benefits cuts) was created and published by Benefits and Work and is republished here under “Fair Use”
See Related Article Below
27 Labour MPs now say they will vote against the Green Paper cuts
BENEFITS AND WORK
The Labour List website has updated its list of Labour MPs who have openly said they will vote against the Pathways to Work Green Paper cuts. There are now 27 MPs who say they will do so, up from 12 just a few days ago.
Another seven Labour MPs have expressed opposition to the cuts, but not yet said they will vote against them.
For MPs to put their heads above the parapet this long before the battle begins takes a certain amount of courage. They will undoubtedly come under huge pressure from Labour whips to back down before a bill to change the PIP points system and cut the universal credit health element for new claims is introduced in May.
If the bill is certified as a money bill, the Lords will not be able to amend or delay it for more than a month, meaning the cuts could be on the statute book by the end of July, ready to be implemented next year.
But with 27 Labour MPs now openly rebelling and one Labour MP having started a petition against his own party’s plans, not everything is going the government’s way.
You can check if your MP is on the list here.
If they are, perhaps send them an email to offer your support for their stand.
If not, and you haven’t already contacted them, now is the time to do so. Getting MPs to come out against the Green Paper cuts is undoubtedly the best way of defeating them.
There’s more on contacting your MP and many other steps you can take on our What you can do page.
This article (27 Labour MPs now say they will vote against the Green Paper cuts) was created and published by Benefits and Work and is republished here under “Fair Use”
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