A Colwyn Bay councillor has slammed Clwyd North鈥檚 MP for vowing to support a bill that could put tens of thousands of children into poverty. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is attempting to cut costs on personal independence payments (PIP) in a bid to save around 拢5 billion on welfare benefits.
But 126 MPs have backed an amendment that would stop the bill being passed 鈥 with a vote on the matter set to take place next Tuesday. Last night, the Government offered Labour rebels a series of concessions in an effort to head off Sir Keir鈥檚 first major Commons defeat since coming to power.
Party rebels started to turn after a government impact assessment found in March that the cuts could push around 250,000 people into poverty. Last week, Labour MP, Gill German, who represents Clwyd North, vowed to support the controversial bill.
Now Colwyn Bay town councillor Phil Ashe has slammed the MP, saying she represents some of the poorest communities in Wales, many of whom rely on benefits. 鈥淚鈥檓 really disappointed that our MP Gill German hasn鈥檛 supported the 126 MPs and signed the amendment to next week鈥檚 welfare reform bill,鈥 said Cllr Ashe. Sign up for the North Wales Live newslettersent twice daily to your inbox.
鈥淗er government鈥檚 own impact assessment says 50,000 more children will be pushed into poverty, yet she is clearly just going to toe the party line. The areas she is representing, Rhyl West for one, are some of the most deprived areas in the UK.
“Another one, Glyn Ward in Colwyn Bay, is above the average for people that claim PIP payments. It is one of the most deprived areas of the country. People in Colwyn Bay claim more PIP payments than the national average, and she wants to take away their PIP payments, and these are people in her own constituency, just so she can toe the party line of what is clearly a failing government. It is a disgrace.鈥
Mrs German declined to comment. Last week Mrs German defended the government’s bid to cut the welfare bill.
鈥淥ur health and disability benefits system and employment support system needs urgent reform,鈥 she said. 鈥淪ince our Pathways to Work Green Paper was published in March, I have engaged extensively on this with constituents as well as national and local organisations in this field, including person-roundtable events in Clwyd North and through work as a member of the Work and Pensions Select Committee.鈥
She added: 鈥淭hese have informed my representations to government ministers and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. I will continue to work with government on this important issue.鈥
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