Owen Smith MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to concerns that the Government may try to enact cuts to Personal Independence Payments for 640,000 disabled people through secondary legislation, without full scrutiny and a vote of all MPs, said:

“This Government has a shameful reputation for trying to push through legislation without scrutiny, but it will be utterly unacceptable for them to try and take billions of pounds away from disabled people without even holding a vote in Parliament.

“Labour has previously forced votes on measures such as the cuts to Tax and Universal Credit, and we will refuse to allow this attack on disabled people to pass without proper exposure and a vote which will allow members from all parties the chance to express their opposition to the cuts.

“There is no political, economic or moral justification for George Osborne’s decision to cut support for disabled people while increasing tax benefits for the wealthiest, symbolising the unfairness of his Budget. I do not believe that those who voted Conservative at the last election did so to see a further £4 billion stripped away from people who may require assistance when washing or dressing.

“Britain is better than that and voices from across the Commons will need to remind Mr Osborne of that fact.”