Calderdale Greens slam Labour disability benefit cut plans
Local leader says cuts to PIP are part of 'financial attack' on borough's most vulnerable + Todmorden referendum result
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Calderdale Lead.
In today’s edition we’ve got a scathing attack on Labour’s plans to cut disability benefits as part of the overhaul of the welfare system.
It comes from local Green party leader Martin Hey who, it’s fair to say, doesn’t hold back on his criticism of Labour politicians both locally and nationally.
Plus, we’ve got the results of the referendum in Todmorden which asked people to decide the future of the town.
So, on with the news…
Greens say Labour PIP cut plans is ‘cruel approach to a complex problem’
The leader of Calderdale’s Green Party has launched a scathing attack on the Labour party over the Government’s plans to cut disability benefits.
As widely reported this week, the Department for Works and Pensions and the Treasury are planning over £6 billion worth in cuts to vital disability benefits.
These will involve making Personal Independence Payment (PIP) harder to claim, freezing the rate of PIP and cutting benefits for those unfit for work.
On Monday, our national edition ran a story in which Ellen Clifford, from Disabled People Against Cuts and author of The War on Disabled People said “The proposed cuts to disability benefits are nothing short of terrifying”.
Now, Coun Martin Hey, leader of the Calderdale Greens, has described Labour’s approach to welfare reform as ‘cruel’.
He told The Calderdale Lead: "The changes we’re hearing about will be a disaster for disabled people in Calderdale, with even those living with the most extreme disabilities likely to lose money.
“Freezing PIP payments is not a legitimate policy change, it's simply a cut in real terms that's going to make life harder for those already struggling with the rising cost of living. It would make around 4 million people worse off, 70% of whom are in low to middle-income households.”
Big Issue reports that, despite 90% of all benefits being awarded to claimants at the initial mandatory reconsideration process, last year alone the DWP spent £22.9 million challenging them. They spent a further £28.1 million on tribunals last year, even though 69% of claimants win at this stage.
ITV also revealed that the government planned to freeze PIP in 2026 so it does not rise with to reflect inflation. They are doing this despite knowing that disabled people are some of the poorest in society.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimated in 2023 that 57% of households with a disabled person had experienced food insecurity and seven in ten regularly went without essentials.
Coun Hey said that the measures brought in - or in some cases not brought in/continued - since Labour took office, coupled with local tax rises, amounted to a ‘concerted financial attack’ on the poorest and most vulnerable in the borough.
He said: “Over the last 8 months, we've seen Labour maintain the Two Child Benefit Cap, increase the maximum bus fare in West Yorkshire by 25%, cut the Winter Fuel Allowance for our pensioners and do nothing while energy bills rise.
“Add to this list Calderdale Labour’s 60% council tax increase aimed specifically at the poorest households in the Borough and you can only conclude that we’re seeing a concerted financial attack on those least able to defend themselves.”
The Greens have long pushed for a 1% ‘wealth tax’ on those with assets of more than £10 million.
And Coun Hey says the party will continue to push Labour on this, despite the Government’s seeming reluctance to go for it.
He said: “Many disabled people use Personal Independence Payments to get to and from work and to pay for essential equipment like mobility aids.
“So these changes may actually reduce the ability to work while simultaneously pushing people into poverty. It's a cruel approach to a complex problem.”
Todmorden residents back greater say on town’s future
Residents in Todmorden have voted overwhelmingly in favour of having more say in the future of the town.
A referendum was held last week asking residents to vote on whether Calderdale Council should take the Todmorden Neighbourhood Plan into consideration when deciding on planning applications.
79% of residents voted in favour of more power although only 13% of the eligible 11,777 voters did actually turn out to vote.
Todmorden Town Council, which had campaigned for the referendum, said the positive vote meant that future decisions would be ‘much better suited to Todmorden’s needs’.
For more information on the Todmorden Neighbourhood Plan, click here.
That’s it for this midweek edition of The Calderdale Lead.
We’ve got so much planned over the next few months so… you’re in a position to do so, please consider taking a paid subscription so I can keep popping into your inbox twice a week with a Calderdale digest and stories.
As always, if you have anything you think I should be reporting on or looking into then I’m on calderdale@thelead.uk
Enjoy the rest of the week and we’ll be back in your inbox on Sunday!
Andrew