"A lot of people with disabilities are very able" says Labour MP on welfare cuts

A Labour MP has defended Rachel Reeves' unpopular welfare reform, calling out those "trapped in a welfare net".

Mike Tapp, MP for Dover and Deal, told the Express: "We need to assess abilities as well as disability, and ensure that if you can work you are. That's morally right not just for the country but also for those people."

"A lot of people with disabilities are very able," Tapp stated, "I don't think it's fair that people are trapped in a welfare net and the fact it's called a net says a lot."

The Chancellor announced welfare cuts worth £4.8 billion in her Spring Statement, causing shockwaves of anger from the Labour Party and beyond as the government's own analysis shows 3.2 million families will financially lose out.

The answer, according to Tapp, is, "giving people a ladder out" of the "welfare net". He argued that the Government needs to ensure: "that those who can work have the opportunity to work.".

"What we really need to be seeing is British jobs for British workers so we are benefiting the economy as well."

The Spring Statement has not gone down well with many voters, as new polls show the Labour party has dropped to third place behind Reform UK on 25 per cent and the Conservatives at 26 per cent.

However, not all voters are outraged by the welfare cuts with Tapp stating that "on the doors it hasn't really come up, in emails we had a bit of an influx but the majority of those aren't people who are impacted by it it's more the principle of it that they might not like."

To hear more from Mike Tapp, Christian Calgie and Lizzy Buchan discussing welfare cuts, Trump's tariffs, and military spending listen to the new episode of The Division Bell.