MPs should vote against disability cuts – and support wealth taxes instead

Up to 100 Labour MPs are considering rebelling over cuts to social security for people with disabilities.

They wrote to the Prime Minister earlier this week laying out their worries about the scale and pace of cuts.

Another, separate, letter opposing the changes was signed by 42 MPs who said the cuts were “impossible to support”.

The government is planning to cut £5 billion from Personal Independence Payments (PIP) – an in-work payment that supports people to cover the extra costs involved with living with a disability.

MPs will vote on the government’s proposed cuts in June.

Our message to MPs

Over the last few weeks you’ve helped us send a clear message to MPs: they could tax wealth more instead of cutting social security to some of the most marginalised.

They could raise up to £24 billion a year by introducing a 2% wealth tax on fortunes over £10 million.

They could raise an additional £36 billion by reforming existing taxes, like capital gains tax.

More than enough could be raised to halt the cuts by tweaking the tax system, and asking those with the broadest shoulders to pay a bit more.

We know there is plenty of money out there, which the Sunday Times Rich List will show when it is published in the next few days.

The problem is that wealth is being increasingly concentrated in the hands of a small number of ultra-rich people, while social security cuts are floated and public services struggle.

We’re convincing MPs with your help

Many MPs are listening. Steve Witherden MP wrote in support of a wealth tax and reforming capital gains tax in Labour List.

While a petition from Richard Burgon MP calling for a wealth tax has over 56k signatures.

But we need to keep getting the message to MPs and the Chancellor: cuts to disability social security are unnecessary – they should tax wealth more instead.

Use our free, quick to use tool to Email your MP:

Regardless of party, we need to convince them that tax reform is the answer, rather than cuts to social security.

Dissent among Labour MPs towards social security cuts is clearly growing. This is our opportunity to show them there is an alternative path.

We need to convince MPs that taxing extreme wealth is credible and popular with their constituents.

The more messages you send to MPs the stronger our argument becomes.