A Southampton MP has rebelled against the government in a bid to block welfare reforms ahead of a new bill returning to the Commons next month.
Darren Paffey, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, is amongst the 108 signatures on a reasoned amendment declining to give the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill a second reading.
He said that the Labour Government led by Sir Keir Starmer has "one chance" to get welfare reform right and that "disabled people and their carers in Southampton Itchen cannot afford for these reforms to be rushed".
While the amendment notes there is a "need for the reform of the social security system," it argues that no formal consultation has been held with disabled people will be affected by the changes.
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It calls for MPs to stop scrutinising the bill because "the government’s own impact assessment estimates that 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty as a result of these provisions, including 50,000 children”.
More than 100 Labour MPs, like Mr Paffey, have signed their names as calls are made for a vote on a proposal to reject the welfare reform bill in its entirety.
The plans would cut disability and sickness-related benefits payments to save £5 billion a year by 2030.
Mr Paffey said he has spoken to many people across his constituency who are "very worried" about the impact it would have to Personal Independence Payments (PIP).
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He told the Echo: “I absolutely recognise the need to reform welfare, and I welcome key aspects of these proposals, such as the necessary and long-overdue improvements to employment support to achieve the government’s goal of helping more people who can work into suitable jobs.
“However, the proposed changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and Universal Credit will have a profound impact on disabled and vulnerable people in my constituency and will likely outweigh the positive aspects of the proposals.
"We simply don’t have enough data to show this risk of pushing more vulnerable people into poverty will be adequately offset by the positive impact of employment support programmes."
Mr Paffey said he wants to support the government in its "good intentions" to make benefits fairer and to stem the "increasing cost" to the taxpayer.
He added: "I hope that they will listen, step back, and work with Labour MPs to fix our welfare system for the future in a way that is compassionate and true to our values.”
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