Derby’s Lib Dems demand Catherine Atkinson and Baggy Shanker vote against disability benefits cuts as rebellion brews

Derby’s Liberal Democrats have demanded Derby’s Labour MPs vote against the Government’s planned cuts to disability benefits if there is one.

The Lib Dems said that the cuts would “punish some of the most vulnerable in our society” and that if Catherine Atkinson and Baggy Shanker voted for them they risked “ripping away vital support for people with a disability”.

It comes as the news has been reported that more than 100 Labour MPs have privately signed a letter to Labour’s Chief Whip expressing concerns over the cuts.

Under the Labour government's plans, the eligibility criteria for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) would be made stricter, and Universal Credit could also be reduced.

Liberal Democrat MPs will not be supporting the Government and Derby’s Lib Dems have urged Catherine Atkinson and Baggy Shanker to publicly say they’re against the cuts.

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Derby, Lucy Care said:

“Our Labour MPs need to do what they know is right and if given the chance, vote against these awful cuts which will punish some of the most vulnerable in our society.

"To fall in line and help push these cuts through, our Labour MPs risk ripping away vital support for people with a disability and undermining their own stated goal to get more people into work.

“People here in Derby deserve MPs who knows what is right for people in our area and that will stand up for those who are in desperate need of support. Backing these cuts would be nodding through Government policies even in the knowledge they could be devastating.

“These cuts will punish disabled people - both those who can’t work and those who need this support to stay in work. It is time for our Labour MPs to show some backbone and commit to voting against these cuts.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Reporting on the Labour rebellion letter can be found here.

(https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2055772/keir-starmer-labour-rebellion-welfare)