An Open Letter To Andrew Cooper MP

Dear Andrew Cooper MP,

We the undersigned, implore you to vote against this Labour Government's plans to tighten the eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments, should they be brought to a parliamentary vote.

According to the most recently available data from the Department of Work and Pensions, approximately 5,500 people recieve PIP here in Mid Cheshire. 3,000 claim the Enhanced rate and 2,500 claim the Standard rate. If you vote to increase the thresholds for points scored per daily living activity, almost 2,500 PIP claimants would lose their disability benefits altogether. 85% of those who claim the standard rate would see their disability benefits disappear.

For many people, the application process is a daunting mountain of paperwork, built on a perception of mistrust. Disabled people, many of whom either want to work but can't, or are in some form of work, are heavily dependent on PIP to help with the extra costs associated with their disability. If these benefits are taken away, it could lead millions of disabled people to destitution.

Without this support, disabled people could be forced into working more hours in their current job, or into occupations that are simply not suitable for their disability. In turn, employers may be hesitant to hire disabled people, due to the increased risk of absence associated with disabled workers.

We accept that the Conservatives left our public services and our public finances in a perilous state, but that recovery should not be built off the backs of the most vulnerable people in our society.

Your party has U turned on the Winter Fuel Allowance, because even your own supporters, including two of your former Councillor colleagues, found taking benefits from vulnerable people to be indefensible. We implore you to fight back against this Labour Government's cruel and callous plans for disabled people. Please vote against any cuts to Personal Independence Payments.

Yours Sincerely,

Jack Price-Harbach

Parliamentary Spokesperson For Mid Cheshire

Liberal Democrats

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Andrew Cooper MP, please vote against any proposed cuts to Personal Independence Payments, if this Labour government puts them forward to Parliament.

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