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Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft resigns over disability benefit cuts

Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft has resigned as government whip over the heavily criticised disability benefit cuts. In a statement late on Thursday night, she wrote:

Whilst I continue to support the government in delivering the change the country so desperately needs, I cannot vote for the proposed reforms to disability benefits.

The shock resignation comes as prime minister Keir Starmer faces a growing revolt over proposed cuts. And, Foxcroft’s announcement came just hours before a crucial vote on the assisted suicide bill.

Foxcroft stands up for disabled people

In her letter to Starmer, Foxcroft wrote:

When you asked me to be the Shadow Minister for Disabled People in 2020, I had no idea the impact this role would have on me. I knew life was difficult for disabled people, but via my engagement with disabled people and their organisations I would learn that it was even tougher than I had imagined.

Her words will be a rare beacon of light during a time when disabled people have been demonised and vilified simply for existing. Disability charity Scope found that:

government figures shows that without PIP, a further 700,000 more disabled households could be pushed into poverty. 

Life costs more for disabled people. Huge numbers already live in poverty as a result of these extra costs. The impact of any cuts to disability benefits would be devastating.

Disability Rights UK have called the cuts “dangerous“. Meanwhile, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s Paul Kissack said:

A government that came to office pledging to end the moral scar of food bank use clearly should not be taking steps that could leave disabled people at greater risk of needing to use one.

As politicians and mainstream media debate whether disabled people have the right to exist, disabled people have – entirely fucking reasonably – been terrified. In her challenge to Labour’s position on disability cuts, Foxcroft is making disabled people, finally, feel a little bit seen.

Untenable

Bringing her tenure as a Labour whip to a close, Foxcroft wrote to Starmer:

I absolutely understand the need to address the ever-increasing welfare bill in these difficult economic times, but I have always believed this could and should be done by supporting more disabled people into work. I do not believe that cuts to personal independence payment (PIP) and the health element of Universal Credit should be part of the solution.

Her comments shouldn’t be a shock. As someone who lives with various disabilities, I know just how much the proposed cuts will absolutely decimate the lives of disabled people across the country. If these cuts go ahead, disabled people will struggle to survive, and some of us will die. In acknowledging that cuts to personal independent payments (PIP) and universal credit (UC) are not a reasonable way to save money, Foxcroft has done more than many politicians.

Admittedly, the bar for these craven politicians is in hell. But, it’s fucking exhausting seeing yourself vilified by an ableist set of policies that you know will decimate the lives of many in our community. Foxcroft has made a principled stand in saying:

I have wrestled with whether I should resign or remain in the Government and fight for change from within. Sadly it is now seems that we are not going to get the changes I desperately wanted to see. I therefore tender my resignation as I know I will not be able to do the job that is required of me and whip – or indeed vote – for reforms which include cuts to disabled people’s finances.

Support

The support for Foxcroft garnered similar praise from others on social media. Canary guest writer Laura Elliott urged more Labour MPs to do the same:

General Secretary of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, Maryam Eslamdoust said:

Disability justice activist Teri painted a vivid picture of the evident panic amongst remaining Labour MPs:

And, another person had praise for Foxcroft’s decision:

Courage

It is a surprise in today’s landscape of image-obsessed MPs that Foxcroft has listened to members of the disabled community and learned from it. Other Labour MPs must take her resignation as a sign of the principled path to take in confronting the disability cuts for the devastation that they will cause. Increasingly, it’s MPs who revolt and resign that are fighting for the heart and soul of the Labour party. Starmer and his ilk should be disgraced by Foxcroft’s principled resignation. It’s the least disabled people deserve.

Featured image via Victoria Foxcroft ©House of Commons, CC by 3.0

By Maryam Jameela

This post was originally published on Canary.