Leeds West and Pudsey CLP calls on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to abandon controversial disability cuts amid rising opposition

Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, is facing pressure from her own local Labour party branch to abandon plans to cut disability benefits. The Leeds West and Pudsey Constituency Labour Party (CLP), which backed Reeves in the last general election, passed a motion this week opposing the Government’s proposals to tighten eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

The Government’s Green Paper aims to reduce the number of working-age people receiving sickness benefits by cutting PIP for around 800,000 disabled people and scaling back the sickness element of Universal Credit, targeting savings of £5 billion annually by the end of the decade.

The Leeds West and Pudsey CLP criticised these plans, stating disabled people “are not responsible for the state of the national finances and should not be made to pay the price for Tory economic mismanagement.” While acknowledging the need for welfare reform, they urged a focus on reducing the “taper” rate that decreases benefits as disabled people return to work.

The CLP has resolved to write directly to Chancellor Reeves and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall to express their strong opposition to the cuts, particularly measures involving reduced rates, higher thresholds, harsher assessments, and increased conditionality.

This local dissent reflects wider unrest within Labour’s parliamentary ranks, where over 100 MPs reportedly signed a letter urging ministers to scale back welfare cuts, with many pledging to vote against them. Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne spoke vividly of his determination to oppose the cuts, while other Labour figures including Richard Burgon, Rachael Maskell, and Andy McDonald have publicly confirmed their opposition.

Disabled People Against Cuts, a campaign group, voiced support for the CLP’s stance, warning that the cuts would devastate communities, strain public services, and harm the economy. Their spokesperson described the proposals as “cruel, badly thought through and entirely performative.”

Reeves’s team has so far reiterated her previous communications to Labour MPs but has not indicated any change in policy.

The growing dissent among Labour’s grassroots and MPs alike highlights the internal challenges Reeves faces as she pushes ahead with welfare reform plans that risk alienating key party supporters.