(qlmbusinessnews.com . Wed 12th Mar, 2025) London, UK —
Moral Imperative: Labour MPs Demand Better Support for Long-Term Sick
Labour MPs have called on the government to support long-term sick and disabled individuals in returning to work, arguing that it is a “moral duty” to help those who are capable of working. In a letter to Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, the Get Britain Working group—comprising 36 Labour MPs—warned that the country faces “hard choices” to address what they describe as a “crisis of economic inactivity.”
The letter, which comes ahead of forthcoming welfare reforms intended to reduce the benefits bill, emphasises that fundamental change is needed within the welfare system. While the Chancellor has already set out plans to implement several billion pounds in spending cuts across welfare and other government departments, critics within the party are concerned that such “draconian cuts” could push disabled people into poverty.
A dozen charities, including Disability Rights UK, Citizens Advice, Scope, and Sense, have also urged the Chancellor to reconsider cuts to disability benefits, arguing that there is little evidence to support the idea that reducing benefits will increase employment outcomes. They stressed that many disabled individuals want to work if given the proper support, while for others, employment may not be appropriate.
The issue comes at a time when the number of people claiming benefits has surged since the Covid pandemic. According to the Department for Work and Pensions, approximately 2.8 million people are currently on long-term sickness benefits—a figure that could rise to over four million without intervention. The government contends that these reforms are necessary to curb rising costs, with Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden recently stating that the welfare system is “not fair on the taxpayer.”
Labour MP Rachael Maskell and other critics have expressed deep concerns, emphasising that previous reforms have not always safeguarded the most vulnerable. With the debate over welfare reform intensifying, the government faces a challenging balancing act: reducing public expenditure while ensuring that those who need support are not left behind.
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