JOHN Swinney has demanded that Keir Starmer “think again” over plans to slash benefits for the disabled.
The First Minister hit out at his Westminster counterpart, saying a benefit crackdown by the PM - set to be announced today - will punish the most vulnerable members of society.
Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon signalled a split in the party as she claimed “working-class people all over the country” are furious at the cuts.
Liz Kendall, the UK Work and Pensions Secretary, will set out reforms today that could see more than 600,000 benefit claimants lose out on an average of £675 a month.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742265282/articles/6UI3hm5xmzVPJDJ4Vhsys/1562462761.jpg]
The Labour Government is expected to ditch plans to freeze Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
But Kendall will tighten eligibility criteria for the benefit under big changes to the benefits system.
PIP has been replaced north of the Border by Adult Disability Payment, which is administered by Social Security Scotland. But Swinney expressed fears that cuts to the total PIP paid out could have knock-on effects for his social security budget.
The SNP leader said:
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742265282/articles/6UI3hm5xmzVPJDJ4Vhsys/1272742441.jpg]
"At this particular moment in time, I don't think that the right thing to do is to punish those who face vulnerability in our society by the type of cuts that have been talked about by the UK Government.
"I would encourage the UK Government to think again.
"I don't like the look of the speculation that I'm seeing because I think that has the potential to have an effect on the resources that we have available to invest in social security.
"Now, we've taken decisions as a government to enhance that investment by some of the tough decisions that we have taken on taxation but we will have to wait to see the full decisions that the UK Government makes."
Starmer was also facing a backlash last night from within his own party.
Lennon warned that members quitting in protest at benefit reforms should be a "wake-up call".
She spoke out after a respected Labour activist said the party's "current direction does not reflect my values of senior party figures to cut up their membership card over Chancellor Rachel Reeves' proposals.
Carolynne's 15-year-old daughter Freya has severe cerebral palsy and, in 2022, she launched an energy crisis campaign to highlight the struggles faced by families like hers due to soaring prices.
Responding to her resignation, Lennon said: "Gutted that Carolynne has resigned from the Labour Party.
"This should be a wake-up call to the party leadership, as it echoes how working-class people feel all over the country." UK ministers insist reform is necessary given the number ...
The First Minister hit out at his Westminster counterpart, saying a benefit crackdown by the PM - set to be announced today - will punish the most vulnerable members of society.
Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon signalled a split in the party as she claimed “working-class people all over the country” are furious at the cuts.
Liz Kendall, the UK Work and Pensions Secretary, will set out reforms today that could see more than 600,000 benefit claimants lose out on an average of £675 a month.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742265282/articles/6UI3hm5xmzVPJDJ4Vhsys/1562462761.jpg]
The Labour Government is expected to ditch plans to freeze Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
But Kendall will tighten eligibility criteria for the benefit under big changes to the benefits system.
PIP has been replaced north of the Border by Adult Disability Payment, which is administered by Social Security Scotland. But Swinney expressed fears that cuts to the total PIP paid out could have knock-on effects for his social security budget.
The SNP leader said:
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583517504/1742265282/articles/6UI3hm5xmzVPJDJ4Vhsys/1272742441.jpg]
"At this particular moment in time, I don't think that the right thing to do is to punish those who face vulnerability in our society by the type of cuts that have been talked about by the UK Government.
"I would encourage the UK Government to think again.
"I don't like the look of the speculation that I'm seeing because I think that has the potential to have an effect on the resources that we have available to invest in social security.
"Now, we've taken decisions as a government to enhance that investment by some of the tough decisions that we have taken on taxation but we will have to wait to see the full decisions that the UK Government makes."
Starmer was also facing a backlash last night from within his own party.
Lennon warned that members quitting in protest at benefit reforms should be a "wake-up call".
She spoke out after a respected Labour activist said the party's "current direction does not reflect my values of senior party figures to cut up their membership card over Chancellor Rachel Reeves' proposals.
Carolynne's 15-year-old daughter Freya has severe cerebral palsy and, in 2022, she launched an energy crisis campaign to highlight the struggles faced by families like hers due to soaring prices.
Responding to her resignation, Lennon said: "Gutted that Carolynne has resigned from the Labour Party.
"This should be a wake-up call to the party leadership, as it echoes how working-class people feel all over the country." UK ministers insist reform is necessary given the number ...
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Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 18, 2025