𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The Tories will seek to force a Commons vote against Labour’s plan to water down reviews for the main disability benefit. New regulations came into force earlier this month, allowing the Government to extend the duration of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award in a bid to reduce the backlog of reviews.

The benefit is intended to help with everyday tasks and extra living costs if someone has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, but the number of people claiming it has soared in recent years. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has tabled an amendment to force a vote by MPs when the legislation is debated in the House of Commons on Wednesday.

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately said: “Labour’s only plan for welfare is watering down benefits checks – reviewing fewer people, less often. It’s an outrageous kick in the teeth to working people footing the bill.

“These reviews check that benefit claims are accurate. Longer gaps between reviews mean more of your money handed out with no scrutiny. Whether it’s Burnham or Starmer, the Welfare Party are only interested in handing out more in benefits.

“The Conservatives would take the opposite approach. We will stop disability claims for mild mental health, bring back face-to-face assessments, and are launching a root-and-branch review of the disability system. We will get Britain working again.”

It emerged earlier this month that the number of people in England and Wales claiming PIP has passed four million for the first time.

There were 4.01million people receiving the benefit in April 2026, according to data published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This is up from 3.74million a year earlier – a rise of 266,175, or 7%.

The number of claimants has roughly doubled since comparable figures began seven years ago in January 2019, when the total stood at 2.05million.

Teenagers and young adults continue to account for a growing proportion of those receiving PIP.

Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was forced to climb down on plans to reform welfare last year in the face of a Labour rebellion.

The Timms Review was instead launched to gather views on Pip and how it works

A Labour Party spokesperson said: “This is pure hypocrisy from the Tories.

“They allowed face-to-face assessments to collapse to just 2%, and their own Shadow Chancellor signed contracts which committed to 80% of assessments being carried out virtually.

“While the Tories try and rewrite history, this Labour Government is getting on with the job, cutting unnecessary reassessments for people with lifelong conditions, reducing bureaucracy, and saving almost £2billion by the end of this Parliament.”