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PIP cuts latest: 127 rebel Labour MPs, Tory offer, Starmer unmoving, Timms on TV

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Tuesday saw more Labour rebels sign the amendment which aims to kill the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.

The total number of signatories is now 134, which includes:

  • 127 Labour MPs (including two suspended)
  • 5 DUP MPs
  • 2 independent MPs

There’s a full alphabetical list at the end of this article.

It’s also been suggested that one Labour MP has removed their name from the amendment as whips and ministers pile pressure on rebels to get back into line, though we haven’t identified which MP this might be.  Update:  one name missing from the latest list is Samantha Niblett, the Labour MP for South Derbyshire.

Tory offer to support the bill

Kemi Badenoch offered to give Tory support to the beleaguered bill, but with three conditions:

  • Reduce the cost of welfare more than this bill does
  • Get more people into work
  • Guarantee no new tax rises in the Autumn

Labour rejected the offer in what appeared to be an ugly and unprincipled episode of bartering with the lives of disabled claimants.

London mayor backs rebels

London mayor, Sadiq Khan, has called on the government to drop the bill until a proper system of support has been put in place, arguing: 

“I have always said that more must be done to support people to go from relying on benefits to getting back into work. It’s vital for a healthy and prosperous London. What we can’t do is take away the vital safety net that so many vulnerable and disabled Londoners rely upon.”

Starmer unmoving

Keir Starmer is refusing to give ground to the Labour rebels.  He told reporters yesterday “We’re pressing on with a vote on this because we need to bring about reform.”

Elsewhere, there are rumours he is considering postponing next Tuesday's vote in order to gain time to win rebels round.

Timms to face work and pensions committee

Stephen Timms, the DWP disability minister currently working on rewriting the PIP eligibility criteria, is to face questioning by the commons work and pensions committee from 9.43am today.  You can watch him on parliament tv

Full alphabetical list of the MPs who have signed the amendment

Abbott, Ms Diane

Abrahams, Debbie

Al-Hassan, Sadik

Ali, Tahir

Allin-Khan, Dr Rosena

Arthur, Dr Scott

Baker, Richard

Bance, Antonia

Barker, Paula

Barron, Lee

Beales, Danny

Beavers, Lorraine

Begum, Apsana

Betts, Mr Clive

Billington, Ms Polly

Bishop, Matt

Blake, Olivia

Brash, Mr Jonathan

Burgon, Richard

Burke, Maureen

Butler, Dawn

Byrne, Ian

Cadbury, Ruth

Campbell, Mr Gregory  (DUP)

Coleman, Ben

Collinge, Lizzi

Cooper, Andrew

Cooper, Dr Beccy

Craft, Jen

Creasy, Ms Stella

Davies, Paul

De Cordova, Marsha

Dean, Josh

Dhesi, Mr Tanmanjeet Singh

Dixon, Anna

Duffield, Rosie (Independent)

Duncan-Jordan, Neil

Easton,  Alex (Independent NI)

Eastwood, Colum

Eastwood, Sorcha

Eccles, Cat

Edwards, Lauren

Efford, Clive

Ellis, Maya

Entwistle, Kirith

Eshalomi, Florence

Evans, Chris

Fenton-Glynn, Josh

Ferguson, Patricia

Foster, Mr Paul

Foxcroft, Vicky

Francis, Daniel

Furniss, Gill

Gardner, Dr Allison

Gilbert, Tracy

Gwynne,  Andrew (Labour suspended)

Hack, Amanda

Haigh, Louise

Hall, Sarah

Hamilton, Fabian

Hamilton, Paulette

Hanna, Claire

Hayes, Helen

Hillier, Dame Meg

Hinchliff, Chris

Hume, Alison

Hurley, Patrick

Hussain, Imran

Jermy, Terry

Jogee, Adam

Johnson, Kim

Jones, Lillian

Jones, Ruth

Kelly Foy, Mary

Khan, Afzal

Lamb, Peter

Lavery, Ian

Leishman, Brian

Lewell, Emma

Lewis, Clive

Lockhart, Carla (DUP)

Long Bailey, Rebecca

Maskell, Rachael

McDonald, Andy

McDonnell, John  (Labour suspended)

McKenna, Kevin

Midgley, Anneliese

Mishra, Navendu

Mohamed, Abtisam

Morris, Grahame

Mullane, Margaret

Myer, Luke

Naish, James

Naismith, Connor

Newbury, Josh

Nichols, Charlotte

Onn, Melanie

Opher, Dr Simon

Osamor, Kate

Osborne, Kate

Owen, Sarah

Paffey, Darren

Pitcher, Lee

Platt, Jo

Quigley, Mr Richard

Qureshi, Yasmin

Ranger, Andrew

Rhodes, Martin

Ribeiro-Addy, Bell

Riddell-Carpenter, Jenny

Rimmer, Ms Marie

Robertson, Dave

Robinson, Gavin (DUP)

Rushworth, Sam

Shah, Naz

Shannon, Jim (DUP)

Smith, Cat

Sobel, Alex

Stainbank, Euan

Stewart, Elaine

Sullivan, Kirsteen

Swann, Robin

Trickett, Jon

Tufnell, Henry

Turner, Laurence

Vaughan, Tony

Webb, Chris

Western, Matt

Whittome, Nadia

Williams, David

Wilson,  Sammy (DUP)

Witherden, Steve

Yang, Yuan

Yasin, Mohammad

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Dods
    · 4 hours ago
    I wouldn’t say Timms is “demonic”, that’s kinda giving him too much credit as an autonomous being. He’s more like the ineffectual, bumbling non-entity you wheel out to rehearse the party line in vague terms because you know that party line is going to collapse in a few days yet have to appear steadfast. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      rtbcpart 2
      · 1 hours ago
      @Dods
      Well if Timms's job is to be

      "the ineffectual, bumbling non-entity you wheel out to rehearse the party line in vague terms"

      then he's doing it 100% 😂

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    clearwater
    · 5 hours ago
    That Untrustworthy Toad...........   Stephen Timms states 


    frankly i cant watch more BS drivel. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      rookie
      · 1 hours ago
      @clearwater They're all useless. Couldn't get beyond the introductions. It's just torture trying to listen. Yah di yah di yah. Someone should samp!e this lot and release a single. Probably enough for an album.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Anon
      · 1 hours ago
      @clearwater "So, do you still intend on bringing the second reading of the bill forward on Tuesday?"
      "Yes, we are. I'm really looking forward to it."
      "OK..." (nervous laughter)

      You know they're laughing because Timms very inappropriately stated that he's looking forward to the reading of a bill that is highly controversial and is producing a lot of backlash to the point where it's questionable it'll go his way. The man isn't just walking on air as Dez pointed out. He's on another planet entirely.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Dez
      · 4 hours ago
      @clearwater I really, really want to like Debbie Abrahams but God, does she really have to talk to somebody who has spouted nothing but lies and conjecture about people on benefits all year like she's a guidance counsellor talking to a 5-year-old? I know this is probably just how she feels she can get more answers but Debbie - honey - he's not going to tell you any different from what he told you in February before the Green Paper dropped. Why assume any different now?

      I mean, Timms's demeanour speaks for itself here. When he was being confronted by other MPs who - quite rightfully - tore into him, he got super defensive and pretty much fled the room but here? He's practically walking on air because he's being enabled and allowed to spout the same lies over and over. 

      It goes pretty much goes like what I've stated in earlier comments:

      Work and Pensions Committee: We have concerns about your proposals to help disabled people into work.
      Timms: spouts the classic line about how the current system isn't working and is letting down disabled people and they just don't know what is good for them - dammit!
      Work and Pensions Committee: OK, that's very nice, Stephen. See you back here in the autumn where we'll express the same concerns and we can expect the exact same line from you.

      Just what an absolute waste of time. If you're not going to challenge him or any of his superiors on anything - namely how PIP is not an out of work benefit (yes, I'm not letting that go) - then you're absolutely doing more harm than good. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Manny
    · 5 hours ago
    Wow! ,If thos goes through with the help of the Tories,this will be the death Knell for the LP .
    And they'll both have blood on their hands,so they'll protect each other.
    Hopefully they'll be a breakthrough over the weekend 🙏, and they'll give some leeway, maybe with some delay and impact assessment. 
    But I ain't hold my breath.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Lisa
    · 5 hours ago
    Not surprised my MP for Barking and MP for Dagenham arent on there. They're absolutely Starmerites. We have some of the highest poverty rates in the UK in this borough. Taking away people's LCWRA part of UC if they dont get enhanced care rate is absolutely barbaric.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Gingin
    · 5 hours ago
    ITV reports Starmer’s answer to a Mail journalist’s question and it is quite hilarious! The opposing MPs are apparently just ‘noises off’ - the man knows how to charm and win people over, doesn’t he? 🤣 I think he’s finished, even if the end drags on a bit.

    'Is it tough going? Are there plenty of noises off? Yes, of course - there always are'

    The PM insists Labour is a 'united front' on the proposed welfare reforms, despite over 120 backbenchers backing a move to block the plans

    Starmer says he's 'comfortable reading the room    '

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      SevenBees
      · 4 hours ago
      @Gingin Starmer is suitable to be a home secretary in respect of his qualifications and work experience. He is not a politician and he never been. So you are absolutely right and I totally agree with you.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Marc
    · 5 hours ago
    The Guardian : Starmer suggests welfare bill revolt just 'noises off' as he rejects claim row shows he is bad at politics


    He's going completely doolally 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      robbie
      · 55 minutes ago
      @D.Head That majority is under the Labour banner in name, but It comprises individuals, some of whom are decent, genuine Labour mps, thank the lord.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Neil Cook
      · 3 hours ago
      @Marc More like well and truly gone off the deep end 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      D.Head
      · 3 hours ago
      @Marc the arrogance of the "man" is shocking. He also says  in the same article about how labour have a big majority to push what they like through basically. As we knew all along he thinks because they have a large majority he can do as he likes. which he can't as clearly demonstrated by the rebellion. deluded
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    John
    · 6 hours ago
    On conditionality Timms said UC health recipients will only be required to engage in support conversations and some would be exempt from that. As the government to start with will focus on those on UC health who want help into work. But the government believes conditionality is appropriate for the UC health group and will be looking at increasing conditionality on UC health recipients in the future. At least if not enough people take up the offers of help. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 4 hours ago
      @John
      That's just an extension of their own demented logic. Current UC LCWRA claimants get LCWRA because we've been through the WCA and been found unfit for work, despite the WCA being notoriously harsh and loaded against the claimant, hence the lack of conditionality. But if UC Health no longer depends on incapacity for work, then that opens up the application of conditionality. Of course, conditionality has been shown to be totally counterproductive, but people like Timms don't care about that. 

      These people are fanatics. There can be no compromise with such people, they have to be fought as hard as possible.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Yorkie Bard
    · 6 hours ago
    So - It's behind a paywall. 

    What you can see is a picture of mint cake and she's gone incognito!
    It really is worth a look.

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      keepingitreal
      · 45 minutes ago
      @Yorkie Bard I was able to read it without subscribing. Aside from enjoying your comment on that hilarious pic of Kendall, I have to say It's a very powerful article which needs to be shared widely. The case examples are harrowing.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Hilde
    · 6 hours ago
    I really "hope" there's a new Labour party assembling itself somewhere in the wings. People with credibility and experience, and who will have compassion and socialistic views at the heart of it. Because we sure are going to need it in four years time..
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Hilde
      · 2 hours ago
      @Hilde I would also add, that we want to hear what they're planning for welfare BEFORE the election  and not just say "we'll always support the sick and disabled ".
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    James
    · 6 hours ago
    Source for GDP of UK is  


    So 4.1% or 104.14bn to be spent on defence next year up from 2.3% and yet 5.5% on Welfare is unstainable ? 

    So how is defence sustainable whereas Welfare is not ? The UK should not be buying US based aircrafts and submarines to help US workers but should be helping UK Citizens live a better standard of life. 

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    James
    · 6 hours ago
    Starmer just promised 4.1% of GDP on defence at the Nato Summit in the Hague. Using the Gross Domestic Product for the UK for this year at 2.31 trillion that means he is proposing to spend 106bn in defence in 2027
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Dee
    · 6 hours ago
    I thought I'd add how big a situation we are in right now. This is one of those moments that rarely happen in Northern Ireland were all parties have collectively united to agree these cuts are cruel. All NI MPs but Sinn Fein are on that list (we don't get many). They don't have their party identified for some reason. Sinn Fein are applying pressure in other ways just not in parliament as usual. 

    Local news story via pay wall bypass for those interested.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Wayne
    · 7 hours ago
    The fact that people will lose pip and carers allowance because of 4 point rule and everything else is disgusting attack.its ok for government to waste money on HS2 and other crap but disabled must suffer 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      rtbcpart2
      · 37 minutes ago
      @Old Mother "Government is fiscally incontinent." It so fiscally is. 8 points.

       
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      rtbcpart2
      · 42 minutes ago
      @Wayne "waste money on HS2 and other crap" - looks like you hit a nerve, there, @Wayne!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Old Mother
      · 5 hours ago
      @Wayne And don’t they waste money. It’s better spent being circulated by many in their own communities than in the hands of a few special interests.  

      Government is fiscally incontinent.  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Anniesmum
      · 5 hours ago
      @Wayne I completely agree! Then the narrative the government keep peddling around the disabled is disgusting.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    MATT
    · 7 hours ago
    Just seen on BBC news, Rayner (standing in for Starmer) has stated the vote will go ahead next week, although if the numbers keep on going up I think there may be a very late change. It's still Wednesday)
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      keepingitreal
      · 31 minutes ago
      @Dee I reckon what they're frantically working on right now is not how to get the bill through, what concessions to make, whether to cosy up to Kemi, no, what they're paddling like crazy to put together is how to save face when they back down. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Dee
      · 6 hours ago
      @MATT They will repeat that like a broken record until something finally gives when they realise it isn't going to work. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Anon
    · 7 hours ago
    Stephen Timms is a truly demonic entity. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Paula
      · 2 hours ago
      @Anon Yes I agree he is a demonic entity, he should be banished and gone
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Mouseclickeyboardtap
    · 7 hours ago
    "Labour rejected the Tory offer in what appeared to be an ugly and unprincipled episode of bartering with the lives of disabled claimants."

    The deluded hypocroicy of Labour this is exactly what Labour already want to implement into legislation!

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Anniesmum
    · 8 hours ago
    What happens next if they do pull the bill? 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Chris Kasey
      · 4 hours ago
      @Anniesmum Usually a defeat of government on a formal bill l, especially of this calibre, means the very real tipping point of leadership direction. Look what happened with Theresa May and then Boris Johnson as their initial Brexit deals failed. May lingered on like a wet fish and gave up, Boris had to call an election to reset and get the majority he needed. For Labour, a defeat of this nature will mean either Starmer has to accept defeat, scrap it, and listen to the will of his party and forget it, or he has the boot, else he flops on like May and we know how that went down.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Cuckoo21
      · 5 hours ago
      @Hopeful Squirrel Oh god I hope so, cabinet reshuffle as well. Get rid of Liz Kendall and Rachel reeves. Hideous creatures.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Hopeful Squirrel
      · 8 hours ago
      @Anniesmum New prime minister probably 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Claire
    · 8 hours ago
    Widespread speculation No 10 will pull the entire welfare bill before the end of Wednesday,a tweet from Kitty Donaldson.Reported in the Guardian live politics.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Moose
      · 38 minutes ago
      @Neil Cook It will never be over. The hatred towards the disabled both by MPs and the public born of sheer ignorance means they (or someone) will keep at it in various forms.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 3 hours ago
      @Neil Cook Probably just postponed. They would probably try again in the autumn in the hope of buying off enough rebels with some "concessions". But by the autumn the detailed impact assessments should be available for MPs to read, which would probably make it even harder for them to win a vote. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      wibblum
      · 4 hours ago
      @Pious Starmer and his puppeteer McSweeney would probably consider making Rayner look stupid as their sole consolation if they're forced to back down on the bill. Not that I'd feel any sympathy for her by this point.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Neil Cook
      · 5 hours ago
      @Claire If it's pulled entirely is it over or just postponed and if postponed then when would they likely decide to try again ?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      David morgs
      · 5 hours ago
      @Pious She doesn’t need any help to look stupid lol.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    john
    · 9 hours ago
    The white paper for the pathways to work green paper they hope to publish at the same time as the Autumn budget. So late October-early November.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 7 hours ago
      @john The detailed impact assessments should hopefully be available by then, and given that they will make for very grim reading that should make it even harder for the government to win a vote. The only thing that could change the verdict of the impact assessments is if the government offers really major concessions, but I think we all know there is virtually no chance of them offering anything other than minor tweaks. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      john
      · 8 hours ago
      @john The white paper will reveal what they are going to do in regards to those who qualify for LCWRA under special rules, like undergoing cancer treatment, or risk of likely substantial detrimental effect to health. Timms says these groups will be protected?

      But the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment bill as written excludes those who are likely substantial detrimental effect to health from being in the severe group. As only those whose LCWRA eligibility is via schedule 7 can qualify for the severe group if they also meet the severe group criteria. Not schedule 9
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    D.Head
    · 9 hours ago
    our good mate Timms again standing up for the disabled.

    quoted from the BBC website "
    He added he would be "delighted" to get support from the Conservatives and "across the entire House".

    what a charmer

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