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SOME OF THE SIGNATORIES INCLUDE LIZ CARR, ROSIE JONES, RUTH MADELEY, ROSE AYLING-ELLIS AND CHERYLEE HOUSTON 12:12, 27 May 2025Updated 12:12, 27 May 2025 Disabled celebrities have signed an
open letter to PM Sir Keir Starmer, urging him to abandon proposed PIP cuts. The letter alleges the cuts would be "inhumane and catastrophic" to the lives of disabled people in
Britain. A planned Commons vote next month will see rebelling Labour MPs oppose their government as more MPs voice their displeasure at the measures and what they could mean for some of the
poorest families in Britain should they take effect in November 2026. The letter discusses the estimates that 700,000 families in poverty could face "further devastation" by cuts
to their overall income. The open letter is part of a new campaign called #TakingThePIP, with notable names lending their reputation to the letter demanding change to the laws proposed. When
discussing the rules, the letter states, "This is not reform; it is cruelty by policy." The signatories warn Starmer the changes will "Strip financial support from those who
need it most, push hundreds of thousands of families deeper into poverty, reduce access to care, equipment, transport, and basic needs, overwhelm councils, which rely on PIP assessments for
social care, remove eligibility for Carer's Allowance from thousands of unpaid carers and deepen social exclusion and increase disability-related deaths". PIP is often seen as a
passport benefit for other services, such as eligibility for carer's allowance. The letter says thousands of unpaid carers will lose income and "overwhelm local councils,"
which often rely on disabled people's PIP for social care. The letter estimates that "Every £1 removed from PIP will cost local councils £1.50" and that "these cuts won’t
save money but will displace suffering and drive up public costs." OUR CHRONICLELIVE DAILY NEWSLETTER IS FREE. YOU CAN SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT HERE. It will keep you up to date with all
the latest breaking news and top stories from the North East. In addition, the letter points out that "losing PIP will automatically strip people of the health element of Universal
Credit—causing a domino effect of financial ruin." Highlighting the poverty issue among disabled people, 69% of people already referred to food banks are disabled. While the cuts are
focused on getting disabled people in work, the letter points out the backlogs at Access to Work, the disabled employment support scheme, where entrants face a six-month wait. According to
recent reports, estimates suggest that there are over 37,000 unresolved applications, leading to significant wait times for individuals needing support. The infrastructure for getting
disabled people into work isn't there yet. The letter isn't just a matter of benefits protection; it's a cry from a community that feels abandoned: "We, the undersigned,
will not stand by while our community is sacrificed for the illusion of savings." They add, "For us, PIP is not a benefit—it is access to life." Many of the signatories come
from television, theatre, literature and the media, including the Adolescence writer Jack Thorne, the comedian Lee Ridley known as Lost Voice Guy, the actor Lisa Hammond and the broadcaster
Sophie Morgan. The letter will be part of a wider campaign launched by disabled celebrities that aims to bring attention to the government's proposed cuts, calling it a matter of
justice, survival, and basic human rights. Cherylee Houston is an actor known for her role as Izzy Armstrong on Coronation Street and one of the organisers behind the letter. She spoke to
the Guardian, which was the first to report on the letter, and said she felt that they "had to do something." "I've heard so very many heartbreaking stories of the
struggles people are facing, even before this latest round of proposed cuts. These cuts will devastate disabled people’s lives if they go through. These are lifeline benefits we are talking
about, stripping away the ability for disabled people to live their lives. We want the government to listen, withdraw the cuts, and work with us to create a system that supports, not
punishes, disabled people.” Article continues below Some MPs from the Labour party, disabled people, charities, and organisations have opposed the cuts. A government spokesperson said:
"We are determined to support people in all parts of the country by tackling poverty and creating secure, well-paid jobs. "PIP is a part of the way that we support disabled people
and people with long-term health conditions. But with the number of people claiming Pip doubling since the pandemic, it’s right that we rebalance the system to ensure support is targeted to
those who need it most."