Lisa Nandy has insisted a major rebellion is not brewing over the government’s welfare reforms, describing the resignation of a party whip over the issue as an “honourable” but isolated incident.
Vicky Foxcroft, a government whip and former shadow minister for disabled people, quit her frontbench role on Thursday evening, stating she could not vote for reforms that include “cuts to disabled people’s finances.”
Her resignation is the first from the government frontbench over the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, which was introduced to parliament this week.
In a letter to the prime minister, Foxcroft said it had been an “honour” to serve in the government and had “wrestled” over whether to “resign or remain in the government and fight for change from within”.
The MP for Lewisham North said: “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.”
Speaking on Friday morning, Lisa Nandy sought to play down the scale of internal dissent, telling BBC Breakfast, “I’m not” detecting signs of a large rebellion.
“It would be wrong to say that when you bring forward big reforms, there aren’t concerns and there aren’t dissenting voices, of course there are”, the culture secretary said. “But Vicky is the only frontbencher that I’ve had a conversation with about resigning.”
She added that only a “handful” of backbenchers had approached her with concerns about the detail of the plans.
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However, her comments come amid reports that a significant number of Labour MPs are deeply unhappy with the proposals to reform the welfare system, expected to save up to £5 billion a year. Over 100 Labour MPs are said to have privately expressed concern.
In an interview with Times Radio later on Friday, Nandy told Times Radio that Foxcroft had “done the honourable thing.”
“If you can’t stick with collective responsibility in government, you have to resign”, Nandy said. “There’s no disagreement between us on the principle of wanting to help people who can work to get work… but there is a disagreement on the practicalities and on the policy.”
Labour MPs were quick to react to the news of Foxcroft’s resignation.
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who lost the Labour whip last year, posted on X: “Vicky Foxcroft worked really hard as the shadow minister for the disabled [and] as a result will have a thorough understanding of the implications of the benefit cuts on disabled people. I fully respect her for the decision she has taken.”
Connor Naismith, the Labour MP for Crewe and Nantwich, expressed “huge respect” for Foxcroft in a social media post, adding: “This must have been an incredibly difficult situation, but she should be commended for standing by her principles.
“I agree with her that reducing the welfare bill is the right ambition, but cuts to Universal Credit and personal independence payment should not be part of the solution.”
Jonathan Brash, Hartlepool MP and member of the Blue Labour group, commented: “She’s right. Our welfare system does need to change, but the cuts proposed are not the right way to do it.”
Dawn Butler, the Labour MP for Brent East, said: “Vicky is my whip and we have had many conversations. I know this would have been a very hard decision to make. I totally understand and appreciate how hard she has worked and her decision.”
Josh Self is Editor of Politics.co.uk, follow him on Bluesky here.
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