Portsmouth and District Unite Community is calling a protest against the savage cuts to Personal Independence (PIP) Universal Credit and Employment Support Allowance (ESA), reports trades unionist and activist Alan Burgess. The protest will take place at the JobCentre at Arundel Street between 11.30 and 2pm on 1st July 2025.
According to Citizens Advice, ‘Plans to cut Personal Independence Payment (PIP) spending by introducing new eligibility criteria have the potential to affect around 1.3 million current claimants – nearly half of the people currently claiming the PIP daily living component. Someone who needs assistance to cut up food, wash their hair and body below the waist, use the toilet, and dress/undress their lower body wouldn’t receive PIP under the new rules. Women, older people and those with certain health conditions, including back pain and arthritis, will be hit hardest. Even people currently claiming the highest rate of PIP could be affected.’
These alarming cuts take place at the same time the Labour government is increasing spending on ‘defence’ by £8.3bn over 2 years. Contrast that to welfare cuts that will amount to £4.8bn, according to government figures. The disability group DPAC (Disabled People Against Cuts) report that the £4.8bn figure is a gross under-estimate and that the true figure is £9bn.
We say Welfare not Warfare. Spending on defence does not make the world safer, it just gives money to the arms manufacturers. Unite has calculated that if you tax those with assets over £4m just 1%, this would generate £25bn. So there is not a lack of money, it is what choices are made. This Labour government would prefer to punish the poor rather than tax the rich.
Picture entitled ‘Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts his first Cabinet at 10 Downing Street. Picture by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street’ re-used under a United Kingdom Open Government Licence v3.0.
