Welfare reforms could push people into ‘deeper poverty’, says Labour MP Katrina Murray

A Scottish Labour MP has said the UK Government’s planned welfare reforms may “harm” constituents who could be “pushed into deeper poverty”.

Katrina Murray, who represents Cumbernauld and Kirkintilloch, said many of the changes announced by chancellor Rachel Reeves had “raised significant alarm”.

Posted on X, Murray’s statement is among the strongest criticism from Scottish Labour so far – though the reforms have caused disquiet among MPs in recent weeks.

The announcements were made by Reeves in the run-up to her spring statement last month and are part of efforts to “get a grip” on the rising cost of social security.

The UK Government is set to narrow the eligibility criteria for personal independence payments, the main disability benefit, while incapacity benefits under universal credit will be frozen and no long available to under 22s.

Murray said that while reforming the welfare system was necessary, she had “deep worries about how these changes will affect children, disabled people, and the most vulnerable members of our community”.

She added: “I, along with several of my colleagues, believe that in its current form, the green paper could lead to far-reaching consequences that harm many people in our constituency.

“If implemented as currently proposed, it is likely that a large number of our community members will be pushed into deeper poverty, rather than being empowered to improve their circumstances.”

Over 25 Labour MPs have publicly said they will not back the government when the reforms come to parliament, while others have expressed their concerns.

Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman is among those who will vote against. He previously told Holyrood there was “absolutely no doubt in my mind that these cuts are going to impoverish already vulnerable, disadvantaged people”.

Reeves has said she is “absolutely certain” the reforms will not push people into poverty and instead help people find work.

She said: “If you move from welfare into work, you are much less likely to be in poverty. That is our ambition, making people better off, not making people worse off, and also the welfare state will always be there for people who genuinely need it.”

An assessment by the Department for Work and Pensions has suggested the reforms will see 250,000 people – including 50,000 children – pushed into relative poverty.

However, UK ministers have argued those estimates do not include the impact of the measures to get people into work. They argued that by providing more personalised and targeted support, more people who are able to work will be able to.