MORE than two dozen MPs have backed an amendment to scrap the major remaining cut in the government’s disability cuts Bill and prevent the creation of a “two-tier” welfare system.

The legislation proposes to reduce the universal credit health element for new claimants from £97 per week to just £50 per week — a cut from £423.27 to £217.26 per month.

Estimates say this change would hit over 750,000 low-income sick and disabled individuals hard, with an average annual loss of £3,000 per person.

Labour MP for Leeds East Richard Burgon tabled the amendment on Thursday to prevent this cut from going ahead.

He said: “This cruel and unnecessary halving of the universal credit health element will see £2 billion per year slashed from vital support that sick and disabled people rely on.

“The government needs to scrap this proposal. There should be no two-tier system for disability support.”