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

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 7 hours ago
    why not a parliamentary petition? 
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    · 14 hours ago
    This Labour government is the worst government we've had in targeting against the pensioners and disabled people and they are worse than the last conservative government. Also, the Prime Minister and the Chancellor are an absolute disgrace to the labour movement and they are a callous, disgusting and inhumane government towards pensioners and the disabled. This is the last time Labour will be in power because we all won't forget what they have done in the next general election.
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    · 1 days ago
    "around 340,000 additional people pushed into poverty." - New Economics Foundation

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    · 1 days ago
    Some of the reasons why Keir Starmer and Co. do not seem to back off from their dreadful changes are as follows:

    * They're backed by people like T. Blair, G. Brown, D. Blunkett, etc., behind the curtain.

    * They're supported by the Blairites in the party. 

    * Current Labour is full of newbies who seemingly care about their jobs more than anything else.

    * They know the Cons would support their evil benefit cuts.

    *  They've a huge majority at the Commons more than enough to crush any rebellion.

    * They're hiding behind their misleading rhetoric of supporting people into work.

    * The fact that people on benefits is a soft target.
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    · 1 days ago
    Richard Burgon, being willing to take a stand against these cuts, is one of the few Labour MPs with a backbone.  
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    · 1 days ago
    Now they are doing an annual National Policy Forum consultation:


    There's a link in there to contribute.  

    Claiming:

    "The hard work of the National Policy Forum in the years before the 2024 election helped us deliver a manifesto that was at the heart of our historic election win".

    "And now the Labour Government is getting on with delivering that manifesto to deliver renewal for our country and security for working people through our Plan for Change".  

    "This is the most ambitious yet honest programme for government in a generation" but going on about "working people" and all their amazing achievements so far.

    Not a single mention of disabled people or the disgusting plans they have on welfare.  Plunging disabled people, pensioners and children into further poverty.  Their manifesto didn't include any of that did it.

    Makes me sick and enraged!

    Everyone, individuals, charities and  DPO's should bombard their consultation over the welfare reform plans.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Send 'Richard Burgons petition' link to your MP and asked them to sign it.

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    · 1 days ago
    the hundreds of new mp's will not help him or us, wont rock there new jobs.
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    · 1 days ago
    I knew the Labour government would do this to vulnerable people. 
    They conned people for there vote then they
    They took off us…
    Please don’t ever vote for them again, when they are up for election again will promise us the world:) 
    And do exactly the same again.
    To people who need it.

    I am up for review for my pip soon, so scared
    That the will stop it.

    Labour government will not take care of us
    When we are vulnerable 
    Keir Starmer is a disgrace to the ordinary people of Britain.
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    · 1 days ago
    Hello all, ironic that I have just received my letter from the DWP informing me of the uprate to PIP.

    Have done research: those born before 6 April 1948, and were receiving DLA are still on DLA. As many members of this forum will know there were three tiers for daily living, currently the lowest level (abolished under PIP) of daily living will be £29.20 per week under the uprate 

    This would equate to £1518.40. Add standard mobility, for example, and the total comes to £3036.80 per year. Would this be a reasonable compromise for those, like me, who get two points on a range of daily living activities? It's still a cut, but nothing like as calamitous as what is being proposed.

    Any thoughts?
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      · 5 hours ago
      @Matt sounds fairly sensible. Also, working people claiming PIP could possibly be given a different tax code instead. Two points across 6 plus descriptors can equate to a high level of functional disability and to insist on eligibility resting on a 4 point score is just awful. Where can you realistically score 4? Cooking, washing, mixing with others maybe, dressing perhaps?
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      · 1 days ago
      @Matt
      There should be no cuts or reductions, it is already far too low and not enough to live.  It should be increased.  Disability costs on average an extra £1100 per month in living costs!

      I understand that a compromise, as you suggest, might be better than the plans, which will be a catastrophic reduction for hundreds of thousands but it should not be a choice of a reduction or a massive reduction.  Then, how long until they decide it's not enough and come back for more or carry on freezing increases, putting people into further and deeper poverty?
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      · 1 days ago
      @Matt More than £40/week less than current standard daily living is too much of a drop. It's early days to be giving them ideas how to buy us off. You don't get much care for 30 quid a week.
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    · 1 days ago
    1  of few left tradtion  LABOUR  mps on peoples s side . 
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    · 1 days ago
    So MPS are required to vote on proposed disability benefit cuts without having access to the devastating comprehensive impact assessment report, the government plans to implement the disability benefit cuts in the 2026-27 fiscal year, and legislation is anticipated to be introduced before

    Just remember every MP received John Prings book, 'the department' highlighting how thousands have died after being found fit for work under the Tory austerity years due to the introduction of WCA, policies which were devastating, and introduced

    Because they are never held accountable, they make the same 'mistakes' again.
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      · 1 days ago
      @Mick It has been reported that the Labour frontbenchers are all multi-millionaires.

      Therefore, the same class as the Conservatives.

      Two parties. One mindset.
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      · 1 days ago
      @Peter
      Yes, and let's not forget that it was Labour that introduced the WCA and supported or abstained from the Tories welfare reforms and austerity.  Trouble is now, who do we vote for?  it will be worse under Tory or Reform and Lib Dem ,Greens or independent are unlikely to win enough seats to make much difference, especially under the current first past the post system.

      Labour under Starmer is taking direction from Ian Duncan Smith's think tank on these cuts as well.  The very people who brought us PIP, UC, welfare reform under Osborne and Cameron and austerity.
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    · 1 days ago
    The problem with this is it's a relatively small proportion of society which will suffer severe poverty. There will not be enough support for the minority. While the majority of people able to work just want to pay less tax. Personally I don't score 4 points but have high care needs. I will loose everything 
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      · 1 days ago
      @Russell
      Selfish and shortsighted of people who are able to work.  Firstly, it will cost them and the economy more because of the massive social and economic benefits of welfare and looking after the poorest, reducing inequality and poverty.  Secondly, people don't think it could happen to them or their loved ones and how they will be treated if they become chronically ill and/or disabled.  I'm all right jack attitude and turning away as long as they aren't affected.

      They'll be coming after them next because all these plans won't work and more taxes will be taken from "economically active working people".

      The figures quoted of the financial losses people face and how many will be affected, are nowhere near the true figures.  This is going to be devastating if it goes ahead.
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      · 1 days ago
      @Russell Don't give up. 'Losing' sides sometimes win. If we give up, they've won already. If the majority do win, I at least want to ensure their consciences and reputations don't come out unscathed. 
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    · 1 days ago
    Burgon should jack labour in, and make way for another byelection for his seat.
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      · 1 days ago
      @Mr Fibro He and others are better on the inside to fight it from within, shout from the rooftops, influence other Labour MP's to do the same, vote against this and the direction the party is heading.  If they are ignored then they can attempt to take down the leadership and resign as a last resort.  They can also make constant and bigger and bigger waves in the media and national press, embarrass the leadership and the party and tell the public the truth.  Resigning might get one mention in the press and be forgotten about and then all those that resign will be replaced with Starmer supporting right leaning MP's, driving out even more of the left from Labour, which is what Starmer wants.  This is exactly what Starmer has done since he became leader of the party.  Get rid of anyone on the left or those that might refuse to tow the line under the new new Labour.
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    · 1 days ago
    Thank you Richard for your petition. 

    The Government must stop this cruel and brutal proposal immediately. 

    Signed and circulated. 
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    · 1 days ago
    Richard Burgon in particular, but other notable but few in number compassionate Labour MPs & from other parties, have helped restore my faith in humanity after this government - that I actually voted for - revealed its cruel & heartless underbelly that has rocked my trust in the party that I mistakenly believed actually had a conscience. 
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    · 1 days ago
    I was wrong to say my Lib Dem MP had not responded to any of my emails about the welfare proposals. Her office sent me a hard copy of her emails, which had gone to my junk email folder. It is encouraging that she says 'so many people have contacted her'.  Here is her most relevant response sent on 25/3:

    Thank you for contacting me about the benefit reforms that were announced on the 18th of March. I have had so many people contact me about this, many of whom are scared about what this means for them and their loved ones. It is a privilege to hear people's deeply personal stories, and these have all been read. However, due to the sheer volume of correspondence I have had I am unable to respond to each story personally. To those of you that this affects, please be assured that I have heard your concerns and will be raising these where possible, as will my Liberal Democrat colleagues. 

    The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is failing those it is meant to support, and short-term cuts will only deepen that failure. We know the system is broken, and the Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for a welfare system that supports people rather than punishing them. 

    We agree that the welfare bill needs to come down and that we should support more people into work - it's what's right for people and our economy But we don't believe you achieve that by slashing support for disabled people - some of whom will never be able to work - while others need PIP precisely so that they can continue to work. Limiting eligibility for these people will do nothing to get more people into employment. 

    The Lib Dems have long said that the best way to bring down benefits spending is to fix health and social care and fix it quickly. This involves investing in preventative health measures by boosting the public health grant, properly funding mental health support, especially for young people, and reforming social care. That is why it has been so disappointing to see the government's lack of urgency in this area, taking three years to complete their social care review and kicking projects like new hospitals into the long grass. Until that changes, no meaningful drop in the welfare bill will arrive, and the misery that people are suffering will continue. 

    I completely appreciate that people have been thrown into really damaging uncertainty and need clarity as soon as possible, but first we need to actually see the legislation, which hasn't been published yet. We also haven't seen the official impact assessment or the Government's full costings, which will come in the Spring Statement. That said, we've been very clear that some of these announcements are simply wrong, for example cutting PIP for people who need support with daily tasks, and of course that will reflect on how I deal with the legislation when it comes to Parliament. 

    If the Government wants to boost the finances quickly, they could be asking the banks, big tech and online gambling firms to pay a bit more out of their massive profits, rather than going after people with disabilities. 

    Disabled people and those that care for them deserve our support and they deserve clarity from this government. Please be assured that I will do all I can to support my constituents through this extremely worrying time. 

    Yours sincerely,

    Anna Sabine MP
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    · 1 days ago
    I'm not confident that there is enough of an out cry or rebellion against these cuts, even if many aren't happy about it. It's admirable that Richard is speaking out, and I'm sure he will be punished somehow for it. He lost the whip last year because he voted against them regarding the two child benefit cap.

    People have asked him to resign since the party doesn't align with his values. However, if MP's resign over this, there will be no one left to vote against it. So, I don't want him to resign. I want him to use his position to influence people and cause trouble, which is exactly what he is doing!
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      · 1 days ago
      @Leah "However, if MP's resign over this, there will be no one left to vote against it."

      It's ridiculous. Why the hell are they resigning when they know their vote could make a difference.
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    · 1 days ago
    I think I have already signed the petition, plus the one which has garnered 100,000 votes and will be debated in Parliament calling for the tax threshold to be increased to £20,000. Of course, Liebour have rejected this citing fiscal reasons (we want your money!)
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      · 7 hours ago
      @Mick Mick, Much agree about some kind of ceiling with this. But ultimately I'd look to take the lowest-paid earners out of taxation altogether. What understandably angers so many people is that Labour could do all of this & also avoid welfare cuts with a relatively small tax increase on the wealthiest, who after all have done exceedingly well after 14 years of Tory tax breaks. But, no, instead Starmer & Reeves would rather target the most vulnerable to avoid upsetting their wealthy backers. Both charlatans of very few principles, if any. 
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      · 1 days ago
      @Ivan
      Oh yes, absolutely right @Ivan it is a conundrum and maybe they should do it with a cut off point so  those earning above a certain amount don't benefit from it.  Not sure what a fair ceiling would be, maybe £70k.

      A tax on assets, wealth tax, windfall taxes on profits, taxes on banks on pre tax profits, etc. Instead of cuts and austerity 2.0.
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      · 1 days ago
      @Mick Another take on this: not increasing the tax threshold penalises the lowest paid the most. Increasing it always brings benefits to our lowest-paid citizens & that outweighs anything else. 
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      · 1 days ago
      @Matt The problem with increasing the tax threshold is that the rich all benefit from it as well.  Those at the top then pay even less.
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    · 1 days ago
    At least there's someone in the labour party who hasn't forgotten their morals, compassion and decency.  Anyone in the party that doesn't stand against this disgraceful attack on disabled and chronically ill people, should hang their heads in shame and be removed from their position with no pension, benefits or golden handshake.

    How anyone can agree with this and have no conscience is beyond inhuman.  It's sick.  The lowest of the low.  What the hell has our country become.  Full of evil monsters, selfish, greedy, despicable.

    No amount of money is ever enough and many (not all) of the wealthiest are happy to get ever richer off the backs of everyone else.  Playing divide and rule games, turning the working people against the disabled through lies and rhetoric in the brainwashing media.

    This has to be stopped right now and never allowed to happen again in the future.  Changes need to be made to reform the system for the better, not making it worse for the poorest, disabled and vulnerable people.  It is bad enough already and has been terribly unfair, biased and designed to fail and torture for years.  The entire points and descriptor system is a farce, in both PIP and the WCA.  Repeatedly reviewing (torturing people) over and over, lies and complete fabrications by so called health care professionals (where's the health, care or professionalism in these people).  Then there's the sanctions if you don't comply to demands, which you are unable to comply with because you are chronically ill and disabled through no fault of your own.  It is barbaric, it has killed thousands and has no place in our society.  The private assessment companies cost millions, the admin costs millions, the repeated reviews, mandatory reconsiderations and tribunals which find in huge numbers that the health care professionals (costing millions) got it wrong.  All of it costs billions and they're happy to spend it, trying to make out  disabled and chronically ill people are liars, cheats, shirkers and fraudsters, even though their own statistics show there is 0% fraud.  

    Why not spend these billions making lives better and paying a decent, truly liveable amount, so that disabled people can live comfortably?  Not having to live in a state of poverty, constant fear,  anxiety, stress and worrying about when the next DWP torture session is coming through their letterbox?

    This whole thing is disgusting, it's gone on for years. No matter which political party or, otherwise individual, instigates or supports this, it is an abomination and needs to stop!