More than 100 Labour MPs are preparing to rebel against the government’s new Welfare Reform Bill — legislation that could cut off support for up to 1 million disabled people. These MPs are backing a “reasoned amendment” that demands proper consultation, a full impact assessment, and protections for the most vulnerable before the bill can proceed. This rebellion represents a critical opportunity — but it will only succeed if MPs feel pressure from their constituents. We are urging all supporters to take action now.
What Welfare Reforms are being proposed?
The Government reforms are expected to remove hundreds of thousands of people from PIP by 2029 — with no published impact assessment and no clear plan for how these changes will protect those most in need. For people with ME/CFS and Long Covid, the risks are severe. Many score a few points across multiple PIP descriptors, rather than 4 in just one. The government’s new rule could strip support from people with genuine, disabling conditions.
Can the Amendment stop this?
Labour currently holds 403 seats out of 650, giving it a simple majority of 156 over all other parties, MPs, the Speaker, and Sinn Féin combined.
More precisely, considering that the Speaker, Sinn Féin MPs, and Deputy Speakers typically do not vote, Labour's working majority (i.e., the margin by which it can pass legislation) stands at approximately 165.
The amendment would need near-unanimous support from opposition parties and a significant Labour rebellion to pass. 108 Labour MPs have already currently signed this amendment and 170 have signalled disquiet regarding the proposed reforms. But even if it doesn’t succeed, a large enough rebellion could : –
- Force revisions to the bill
- Delay implementation
- And signal to the government that it must listen to disabled people and those who represent them.
Tell your MP: Vote for the Reasoned Amendment
The ME Association is calling on our supporters to urgently contact their MP — regardless of party — and ask them to vote for the reasoned amendment. We’ve made it easy. You can use our template letter, which takes just minutes to personalise and send.
Tell your MP: – That you oppose these welfare reforms, – That they will harm people with ME/CFS, Long Covid and other chronic, fluctuating conditions, – And that you expect them to stand up and be counted when the vote comes.
Encourage others to write to their MPs
Use our graphics and suggested text to share the message on social media and encourage others to contact their MPs.
We’re Already Fighting Back
Submitted detailed evidence to the Work and Pensions Select Committee – Compiling a comprehensive report challenging the reforms as part of our Green Paper consultation response – Met with MPs and Ministers directly – Launched a national survey to gather real-world experiences of disabled people affected by the benefit system We’re ensuring disabled voices are heard — but we need your help to amplify them in Parliament.
What is at Stake?
If this bill passes unchallenged, it will: – Remove support from people who need it most – Increase poverty and health inequality – Push chronically ill people beyond their limits — risking long-term deterioration As Neil Duncan‑Jordan MP warned in a recent debate: “The fear among disabled people is that the changes outlined in the ‘Pathways to Work’ Green Paper … amount to piling more cuts on to an already broken system.”
Full Text of the Reasoned Amendment
That this House, whilst noting the need for the reform of the social security system, and agreeing with the Government’s principles for providing support to people into work and protecting people who cannot work, declines to give a Second Reading to the Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill because its provisions have not been subject to a formal consultation with disabled people, or co-produced with them, or their carers; because the Office for Budget Responsibility is not due to publish its analysis of the employment impact of these reforms until the autumn of 2025; because the majority of the additional employment support funding will not be in place until the end of the decade; because the Government’s own impact assessment estimates that 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty as a result of these provisions, including 50,000 children; because the Government has not published an assessment of the impact of these reforms on health or care needs; because the Government is still awaiting the findings of the Minister for Social Security and Disability’s review into the assessment for Personal Independence Payment and Sir Charlie Mayfield’s independent review into the role of employers and government in boosting the employment of disabled people and people with long-term health conditions
Ella Smith
Welfare Rights Consultant,
The ME Association
Media Coverage
- The Guardian: Labour MPs launch major rebellion to stop welfare bill | June 24, 2025
- BBC News: Labour MPs mount major bid to block benefits changes | June 24, 2025
- Independent: Labour MPs ready to rebel against welfare reforms despite deselection threat | June 24, 2025
- The Times: Rebel Labour MPs sign proposal to kill off benefit cuts bill | June 24, 2025 (paywalled)
- Financial Times: Over 100 rebel Labour MPs seek to stop Starmer’s welfare reforms | June 24, 2025
- BBC Sounds: Today – Debbie Abrahams interview between 7:30-8am | June 24, 2025
- Benefits & Work: 108 Labour rebels sign amendment to kill PIP cuts bill | June 24, 2025
- The Guardian: Labour’s benefit cuts will have ‘devastating’ impact on disabled women, say charities | June 24, 2025
- Labour List: Welfare reform bill: MPs on why they back the amendment – or back Kendall | June 24, 2025