Robert Jenrick’s charitable efforts have stuck in the throat of many as they came on the same day Reform announced they would scrap the disability payments system, Pip.
In a move that would affect almost three million of the most vulnerable people in society, Reform UK said it would aim to cut £20bn from the disability benefits bill with the measure.
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The policy plan was outlined by Robert Jenrick in an article for the Sunday Telegraph, in which he labelled the current Pip system “suicidal empathy” and “a strange perversion of compassion”.
The proposal would see 2.89 million people have their disability payments’ removed, or modified, under plans to abolish Personal Independent Payments (Pip) for working age people.
Extra health-related payments on Universal Credit would also be scrapped.
Pip would be replaced with a cash benefit that would be restricted to only the “gravely ill and severely challenged”.
Those with “lower level conditions” would get supported through a council-run programme.
But on the very same day Jenrick announced plans which would make life harder on sick and disabled people and impact millions, he shared a picture on social media after running the Newark half marathon – where he had raised money for a hospice.
The cruel irony of this was not missed by many.
Reform’s plans have been slammed by political opponents and campaigners.
The Labour Party said it was “fantasy economics, built on stripping support from disabled people”, whilst Labour MP Rachael Maskell arguing it was proof Reform “do not want disabled people to play a full role in our society.”
Mothin Ali, the Green party deputy leader, said it is “cowardly to take from the most defenceless when we should be taxing the super-wealthy, including those who are in the privileged position of accepting £5m donations.”