In a significant blow to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Vicky Foxcroft, a prominent Labour MP and former shadow minister for disabled people, resigned as a government whip on June 19, 2025. Her resignation comes in protest against the government's controversial welfare reforms, which include cuts to disability benefits such as the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the health element of Universal Credit.
Foxcroft's departure highlights the growing unease within the Labour Party over the proposed changes, which aim to tighten eligibility criteria for disability payments and reduce welfare spending by an estimated £5 billion annually by 2030. The reforms, introduced in Parliament earlier that week, have sparked widespread concern among MPs and disability advocates, with many fearing the cuts will push vulnerable individuals further into poverty.
In a heartfelt letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Foxcroft explained her decision to resign, stating that she could not support reforms that would reduce financial assistance to disabled people. "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," she wrote. Foxcroft emphasized that while she recognized the need to address the escalating welfare bill amid difficult economic times, she believed this should be achieved by supporting more disabled people into work rather than cutting vital benefits.
Foxcroft's resignation marks the first frontbench departure in direct opposition to Starmer's welfare agenda, signaling potential fractures within the party's ranks. As a whip, her role would have involved persuading fellow Labour MPs to back the government's legislation, making her stance particularly impactful. She described her struggle with the decision: "I have wrestled with whether I should resign or remain in the government and fight for changes from within. Sadly it now seems that we are not going to get the changes I desperately wanted to see."
Her experience as shadow minister for disabled people gave her a deep understanding of the challenges faced by disabled individuals. She reflected on her time in the role, noting that life for disabled people was "even tougher than I had imagined," with many living in poverty, fearful of losing support, and unable to access adequate medical care or suitable housing. Foxcroft expressed pride in serving as part of the first Labour government in 14 years but urged ministers to revisit the reforms so she could continue supporting the government's broader goals.
The government's welfare reform bill, formally known as the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, was published on June 18, 2025. It proposes tightening the criteria to qualify for PIP, which currently supports 3.7 million claimants—a record high that has risen sharply from 2.05 million in 2019. Under the new rules, claimants who can only wash half their body or cannot cook a meal unaided may lose eligibility unless they have other limiting conditions.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, a key architect of the reforms, defended the legislation as necessary to fix a "broken welfare system" that is failing the sick and vulnerable. She argued that the reforms would encourage those able to work to do so, while protecting those with the most severe disabilities. Kendall also extended the transition period for those losing PIP from four weeks to 13 weeks, aiming to ease the impact. She emphasized that people with severe conditions, such as heart disease or spinal injuries, would not face reassessments.
Despite these reassurances, the reforms have provoked opposition from within Labour. More than 100 MPs have expressed concerns, with around 50 reportedly planning to vote against the bill and many others expected to abstain. At least 42 MPs have publicly declared their opposition, while about 170 have signed private letters to party whips voicing significant worries. The government, however, has warned that dissenters could lose government positions or even the Labour whip.
Impact assessments released alongside the bill estimate that 370,000 existing PIP claimants across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland would see cuts, saving the government £1.7 billion by 2029/30. Additionally, a predicted 430,000 fewer future claimants would save a further £1.89 billion. A separate March 2025 assessment suggested that 250,000 people could be pushed into poverty due to the changes, though ministers argue this figure does not account for a £1 billion plan to help the long-term sick and disabled find work.
Foxcroft's resignation has drawn praise from some quarters. Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who lost the Labour whip last year, lauded her understanding of the implications of the cuts, stating, "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." Labour backbencher Connor Naismith echoed this sentiment, commending Foxcroft for standing by her principles despite the difficulty of the choice.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, however, downplayed the scale of dissent, noting that Foxcroft was the only frontbencher to speak to her about quitting over the welfare plan. She acknowledged that "a handful" of backbench MPs had expressed concerns about the details but remained confident that the reforms were the right course of action for protecting those unable to work while supporting those who want to enter employment.
As the Labour Party prepares for a crucial vote on the welfare reforms, expected around July 1, 2025, the leadership faces a delicate balancing act. The government aims to overhaul a £326 billion social security system it views as unsustainable, but the backlash from within its own ranks underscores the political risks involved. With nearly a thousand thousand people potentially affected by the cuts and the welfare system's future hanging in the balance, the coming weeks will be pivotal for both the government and the vulnerable communities caught in the crossfire.
Vicky Foxcroft's resignation offers a poignant reminder of the human cost behind policy decisions. Her call to support disabled people into work rather than cut their financial lifelines challenges the government to reconsider how best to balance fiscal responsibility with compassion and dignity.
