The Welwyn Hatfield Labour leader spoke out yesterday (Tuesday, July 1) in opposition to “devastating” proposed government cuts to disability benefits.
Max Holloway, Welwyn Hatfield Labour group leader, joined 25 other Hertfordshire Labour councillors in signing a letter against the cuts.
The letter was published on social media hours before the government announced further concessions on their Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, meaning cuts will not be implemented until after recommendations from a review have been considered.
The government’s bill was passed by 335 votes to 260, but 49 Labour MPs voted against it – including North East Hertfordshire MP Chris Hinchliff.
Cllr Holloway said the bill, as it looked on Tuesday morning, would “create a two-tier disability system” by reducing benefits for new claimants.
At that stage, the government had already watered down proposed changes to disability benefits in the face of a rebellion from backbench MPs.
Concessions at that point included limiting the cuts only to new claimants and promising to review the assessment process for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Yesterday morning, Cllr Holloway said: “While I appreciate the government’s concessions and welcome the protections for existing claimants, we must not lose sight of what people needed protection from in the first place.
“This bill now simply delays the impact for thousands of disabled people across the country and creates a two-tier disability system.
“We could find ourselves in the bizarre situation whereby two people with the same conditions will get different support based on when they applied for support, not their individual needs.”
According to the Department for Work and Pensions, if the cuts had come into effect they could have pushed around 150,000 people into relative poverty by 2030.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the welfare system is “unsustainable”, with four million people now claiming PIP compared to less than three million in 2019.
The letter from Labour councillors in Hertfordshire was signed by 26 representatives in Broxbourne, Dacorum, East Herts, North Herts, Stevenage, Three Rivers and Welwyn Hatfield, and said they will “support any Hertfordshire Labour MP who commits to voting against these cuts”.
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It read: “We got into politics to support our communities. These cuts will impoverish them.
“Whilst the government’s concessions are welcome, they make a bad bill only marginally less bad.
“These are still deep cuts to the broken benefits system we inherited from the Conservatives – one that already fails disabled people
“Cutting benefits from a baseline left by the Conservatives is not what a Labour government should be doing.
“The impact in Hertfordshire will be devastating.”
The statement in full
“We, Labour Councillors across Hertfordshire, are opposed to the Government’s proposed cuts to disability benefits.
“During the local elections, candidates and councillors were met with anger on doorsteps across our county. Voters were disappointed with the Government’s stance on winter fuel, the two-child benefit cap, and now, proposed cuts to disability support. In many areas, we paid the price at the ballot box.
“We welcome the positive measures the Government has taken recently to partially U-turn on Winter Fuel Payments, extend free school meals, and invest in our National Health Service. All these positives will be undermined if the Government pushes ahead with its planned cuts to disability support.
“Whilst the Government’s concessions are welcome, they make a bad Bill only marginally less bad. These are still deep cuts to the broken benefits system we inherited from the Conservatives – one that already fails disabled people.
“Cutting benefits from a baseline left by the Conservatives is not what a Labour Government should be doing. The impact in Hertfordshire will be devastating. Disabled people will be pushed to crisis point, reliant on food banks, or facing increased risk of homelessness.
“We got into politics to support our communities. These cuts will impoverish them.
“We urge the Government to withdraw these proposals, listen to disabled people, and bring forward fairer plans – underpinned by Labour values – that provide dignity and real support to disabled people in Hertfordshire.
“We will support any Hertfordshire Labour MP who commits to voting against these cuts.”
Signatories
Welwyn Hatfield
Councillor Max Holloway (Labour Group Leader)
Councillor Rose Grewal (Deputy Group Leader)
Councillor Astrid Scott
Councillor Kieran Thorpe
Councillor James Broach
Councillor Matthew Hobbs
Councillor Ian Walsh
Councillor Margaret Birleson
Councillor Jill Weston
Councillor Lynn Chesterman
Councillor Alan Chesterman
Councillor Lucy Musk
Councillor Cathy Watson
North Herts
Councillor Vijaiya Poopalasingham
Councillor Emma Fernandes
Councillor David Winstanley
Councillor Sean Nolan
Broxbourne
Councillor Carol Bowman (Group Leader)
Councillor Sean Waters
Councillor Selina Norgrove
Dacorum
Councillor Goverdhan Silwal PhD
Councillor Barbara Pesch
Councillor Lin Greenfield
East Herts
Councillor Carolyn Redfern
Stevenage
Councillor Alistair Gordon
Three Rivers
Councillor Joan King
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