By Michael Pringle
Motherwell and Wishaw MSP Clare Adamson is calling on Scotland鈥檚 Labour MPs to stand up to Keir Starmer over “shameful” cuts to disability payments. The SNP MSP blasted the UK Government saying they are 鈥減laying games with people鈥檚 lives鈥 ahead of a crunch vote on Labour plans to cut critical disability support. A vote on Labour鈥檚 welfare Bill is due to come before Westminster on Tuesday and there is significant opposition to Labour鈥檚 cuts. Ms Adamson has emphasised warnings that the Labour deal amounts to 拢3 billion in cuts and the creation of a two-tiered system. Labour鈥檚 planned cuts will hit future claimants of PIP and the health element of Universal Credit, which the MSP says will 鈥減unish鈥 young and newly sick and disabled people. Disability Rights UK warned the newly proposed cuts to disability and sickness benefits will create 鈥渁 two-tiered鈥 system. Speaking on Times Radio on Friday, Mikey Erhardt warned: 鈥淭he idea that you will be less in need, or less deserving of support depending on when the condition that necessitates that support, is something you just have to reject out and out鈥. The Scottish Government has confirmed it will not follow Labour鈥檚 two-tiered system and it will protect Adult Disability Payments in Scotland. But Ms Adamson pointed out that any UK cuts will affect spending available in Scotland. She highlighted that Labour MPs in Scotland have failed to indicate if they back the Bill. Anas Sarwar has consistently backed Keir Starmer鈥檚 disability cuts, but has yet to indicate how he will instruct Scottish Labour MPs to vote. Pamela Nash, Labour MP for Motherwell, Wishaw, and Carluke previously criticised cuts to disability welfare proposed under the Conservative government 鈥 arguing that such a move would disproportionately disabled people in her community. She has yet to speak out against Labour鈥檚 cuts to disability welfare which will drive thousands into poverty, according to the UK Government鈥檚 own figures. Ms Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, said: 鈥淣one of this sorry saga is about protecting or supporting sick and disabled people. Labour announced billions in welfare cuts, saving money on the backs of people who can鈥檛 afford it. 鈥淎nd now, at the 11th hour, after months of pressure from anti-poverty charities and disability groups, Keir Starmer has rushed through a deal to save himself. 鈥淔rom the start, these proposals were not properly consulted upon. Labour needs to go back to the drawing board; disabled people affected by these cuts have been completely dismissed. 鈥淟abour plans will create a discriminatory two-tier system which treats people with exactly the same condition in different ways – depending on when they became ill or disabled. 鈥淭hat is senseless, unfair, and possibly unlawful. If the cuts are pushed through tomorrow, you had better not become sick or disabled in future because Labour has made it clear they won鈥檛 support you. 鈥淔or the Labour MPs who found some principle and joined the chorus of backlash against these cuts, I鈥檇 urge you to hold firm. This hasty deal will drive poverty, deny opportunity, and deepen inequality for sick and disabled people. 鈥淔or Scottish Labour politicians who vowed to stand up to Keir Starmer, your silence is a rank betrayal of the people you鈥檙e supposed to represent. Labour is rushing legislation through with backdoor deals 鈥 while disabled people are fearful for their future. “MPs must oppose these shameful cuts tomorrow because it is the right thing to do.鈥 *Don’t miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here . And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here .