Julia Modern

My speech in Parliament tonight on why I voted against the cruel cuts to disability support.

MPs and much of the media have spun a false narrative about tonight’s Universal Credit vote. The PIP pause has created the myth the government has fully u-turned on its disability cuts. But £2 billion is about to be pulled from the sickest and poorest people in the country.

“Huge swathes” of severely disabled people will be hit by Universal Credit cuts, contrary to government claims they will be protected.  My exclusive in today’s Guardian ahead of the vote: theguardian.com/society/2025/j…

This is nonsense. The impact assessment starts from an imaginary baseline incorporating reforms planned but never implemented by the previous government In the real world, the cuts remaining in the Bill will push around 50,000 disabled people into poverty theguardian.com/society/2025/j…

The Government isn't telling MPs how its disability benefit cuts will hit people already in poverty. 3/4 UC Health recipients face deprivation - future claimants will see their incomes fall, forcing disabled people deeper into poverty. I’m voting to remove cuts from the Bill!

My favourite thing about this country is that 'you can't take money from millionaires, they might leave' is considered a more valid and compelling argument than 'you can't take money from disabled people, they might die'.

Actually around 50,000 people will be pulled into poverty by remaining cuts in Bill – this now our best estimate based on Govt’s impact assessments. @jrf_uk previously showed how DWP sleight of hand underplayed true poverty impact – same applies to this latest publication. 🧵1/3

It’s great to see so many Labour MPs sharing my Guardian story ahead of the vote. The Universal Credit cut in today’s bill is wrong full stop but it’s particularly worrying that the minimal protection the government has included is not up to scratch.

I stand with disabled people across the UK and organisations representing our interests @TakingThePIP1, @Dis_PPL_Protest, @DRDisabilityReb, @DisRightsUK and @johnpringdns, in opposing cuts to UC being made through the Disability Benefits Cuts Bill today.

We ask all MP’s to vote against the Universal Credit (PIP) Bill. It is condemned by: All Deaf & Disabled People’s Organisations All Major Charities All Human Rights orgs All Anti Poverty orgs The United Nations. The DWP’s Bill is simply the wrong policy approach.

MPs can vote today to remove the UC Health cut for future claimants from the welfare bill. If they don't, it will push 50,000 into poverty. 75% of current UC Health recipients already face material deprivation - future claimants will be even worse off. Vote to remove the cuts.

Here's me talking about why MPs should still vote against the universal credit bill today

Disabled lives should not be 'negotiated' or conceded over. Last year, the UN highlighted that the DWP assessment process led to 600 deaths in 3 years. The *only* conversation on disability benefits that should be happening is how to build a system that doesn't cause death.

It is significant that Disability Labour - the Labour Party’s official disabled person’s affiliate organisation - has issued a statement that the government’s concessions are insufficient and is calling on all MPs to vote against the benefits Bill on Tuesday.

Why don't we support the Government's concessions? Because: Benefits are already so low that 27% of UK working-age Disabled people live in poverty. Future claimants will face the same high costs as we do. Tell your MP: Vote against the bill in full: buff.ly/IIXwKuO

And for the millionth time: PIP is not an out-of-work benefit. It covers the costs of being Disabled in a society that still fails to be accessible. A two-tier system based on date of claim, not level of need, is blatant discrimination. #TakingThePIP @InclusionLondon (5/12)

No concessions - stand your ground! Keep up the pressure and tell your MP that we will not condemn future claimants to poverty. Protecting current levels of UC and PIP is right for current claimants, and it's right for future claimants too. Full statement: buff.ly/SB1oITz

Strikingly most voters including Reform voters think that the government should look for other means to make savings rather than cutting disability benefits

Minister finally admits that working-age benefits spending is stable, despite months of ‘spiralling’ claims @CommonsWorkPen @stephenctimms @KemiBadenoch @csjthinktank disabilitynewsservice.com/minister-final…

"you do not create the conditions for us to work by cutting our financial support while failing to address the barriers which are deeply entrenched within an inflexible labour market"