Olivia Blake dismisses Starmer’s welfare bill changes as ‘plucked from the air’ and urges rebels to stand firm
A disabled Labour MP has said Keir Starmer’s chaotic U-turn on welfare reform will create an “unethical two-tier system”, in a damning intervention which will put further pressure on the prime minister to change course.
Olivia Blake, one of only nine MPs in parliament who has a disclosed disability, said the proposed changes to the welfare bill have been “plucked from the air” by ministers scrambling to secure support for the bill in Tuesday’s crunch vote in the Commons.
“The first thing I thought when I heard the concessions was, wait, we’ve not taken the step back that’s needed here, we’re working to improve a bill which is really harmful,” she said. “This could form an unethical two-tier system that treats two people with the exact same injury or illness differently.”
Blake, who has genetic pain disorders and is neurodivergent, said she has repeatedly warned ministers and whips for months about the inadequacy of the plans, but described the process of trying to communicate with government as like “shouting at a brick wall”.
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