FORMER shadow disability minister Vicky Foxcroft has become the first minister to resign over Labour's plans to cut disability benefits.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy insisted today that a major rebellion is not on the cards as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faces the biggest revolt of his premiership in a vote over the proposals early next month.
Ms Foxcroft resigned as a government whip, saying that she understood “the need to address the ever-increasing welfare bill” but did not believe the proposed cuts “should be part of the solution.”
She said she had wrestled with whether to resign or remain in the government and “fight from within.
“Sadly it … now seems that we are not going to get the changes I desperately wanted to see.
“I therefore tender my resignation as I know I will not be able to do the job that is required of me and whip — or indeed vote — for reforms which include cuts to disabled people’s finances.”
Rebel Labour MPs welcomed the Lewisham North MP’s decision with at least a quarter of the Parliamentary Labour Party expected to vote against the cuts.
She received hugs and other gestures of support from her Labour back-bench colleagues as she appeared in the Commons to take part in votes on the assisted dying Bill today.
Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash said he had the “utmost respect” for her “principled stand” and Crewe and Nantwich’s Connor Naismith said it “must have been an incredibly difficult decision, but she should be commended for standing by her principles.”
Ms Nandy said that government believes the Commons will back the reforms expected to save up to £5 billion a year.
She claimed that the package of reforms was “absolutely right” but that Ms Foxcroft “did the honourable thing” by standing down.
Legislation introduced into Parliament on Wednesday includes a tightening of the criteria for the main disability payment in England, the personal independence payment.
Ministers also want to cut the sickness-related element of universal credit, and delay access to it so only those aged 22 and over can claim.
Ms Foxcroft is the second Labour frontbencher to resign in protest over policy issues after Anneliese Dodds quit as development minister over cuts to the aid budget.
