A group of prominent celebrities, including Sir Stephen Fry, Brian Cox, and Stanley Tucci, have expressed their criticism towards the government’s proposed £5bn reduction in disability benefits. They describe these plans as “shameful” and “a stain on this country.” These celebrities have joined forces with Trussell, the UK’s largest food bank network, to urge ministers to reconsider the proposed changes. They warn that these cuts could push more disabled individuals into poverty and increase their reliance on charity food banks.
According to Labour’s recent proposal to overhaul the disability benefit system, more than a million people stand to lose support valued between £4,200 and £6,300 annually. For some households, the shortfall could be as significant as £10,000 per year. These cuts represent the most significant reduction in disability benefit spending to date and have sparked widespread outrage among Labour backbenchers, as well as virtual unanimous condemnation from disability and poverty campaigners.
Fry argued that the burden of these cuts should be shouldered by the wealthiest in society, not the most vulnerable. Cox added that it’s a mark of shame on the nation that so many must rely on food banks to survive, emphasizing the nonsensical nature of these cuts and their lasting impact on many lives.
Comedian Rosie Jones, who has cerebral palsy, expressed the fear that many disabled individuals feel about the future if disability payments are reduced, noting they already struggle to cover essentials. Entrepreneur and celebrity chef Levi Roots emphasized the need for compassionate solutions to make food banks unnecessary, suggesting that cutting disability payments would only sustain food banks for longer.
Trussell, responsible for overseeing a network of over 1,400 food banks across the UK, highlighted that households with disabled members are disproportionately at risk of needing food banks. They termed the proposed cuts as “cruel and irresponsible.”
Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the plans, arguing that the recent increases in disability benefit spending were unsustainable and that the social security system was failing disabled individuals by trapping them on benefits when they wished to work.
Dame Arlene Phillips, a choreographer and former Strictly Come Dancing judge, stressed the essential role of the social security system, labeling cuts to disability benefits as shameful. Stanley Tucci, through his work with Trussell, underscored the harsh reality these cuts would impose, particularly on families with disabled children, urging a loud opposition to the plan.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson defended the reforms, stating they aim to create a fairer, more sustainable social security system. They emphasized the importance of helping individuals into gainful employment to combat poverty and inequality, acknowledging the shortcomings of the inherited system which they claim inadequately supports those it is meant to assist.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/21/stain-on-this-country-celebrities-condemn-cuts-to-uk-disability-benefits
