HOLLYWOOD stars Stanley Tucci, Rosie Jones, and Brian Cox are among celebrities who have united to call on the Government to U-turn on controversial welfare cuts.
Other high-profile names to join the calls include Sir Stephen Fry, Aisling Bea, Levi Roots, Guy Garvey, Dame Arlene Phillips, Charlotte Ritchie and Jed Mercurio.
With experts estimating that around a million people in England and Wales will lose their disability benefits as part of the overhaul, the changes have been branded “shameful” and are said to have left those likely to be affected fearful for the future.
The comments come as new polling by Trussell reveals that seven in 10 people think social security should at least pay for disabled people’s essential living costs.
Polling done this week by Trussell, an anti-poverty charity which supports a community of 1400 food banks, indicated that 60% of Brits think the UK Government is "doing badly" on reducing the number of people experiencing poverty across the UK.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has insisted that the current system is “morally and economically indefensible”, with the Government estimating its measures will save more than £5 billion a year by the end of the decade.
Changes to eligibility for the main disability benefit, the personal independence payment (PIP), are expected to account for the largest proportion of savings.
However, the Resolution Foundation think tank has said the tightening of PIP eligibility would mean between 800,000 and 1.2 million people losing support of between £4200 and £6300 per year by the end of the decade.
The celebrities united to express their outrage at the social security cuts announced on Wednesday, saying that they risk pushing even more disabled people to food banks.
Comedian Rosie Jones (above), who has cerebral palsy, spoke out about the potential impact of these cuts, saying: “Disabled people are scared of what the future holds if there’s cuts to disability payments, as they are already not enough to cover life’s essentials. Disabled people are far more likely to need to use a food bank and further cuts will only deepen the hardship they are facing.”
Tucci has encouraged people to speak out about the risk of the cuts.
The Conclave star (below) said: “It breaks my heart to know so many people in a country as wealthy and developed as UK are experiencing hunger. Through my work with Trussell, I know that the reality of these cuts will be parents in disabled families having to skip meals so that they can feed their children.
"Things don’t have to be this way. We must shout as loud as we can to let the UK Government know this plan is wrong.”
Actor Brian Cox, who experienced poverty as a child, urged the UK Government to rethink the plans when he said: “The fact that so many people are having to turn to food banks is a stain on this country.
"This government vowed to tackle the need for emergency food parcels in the UK, yet this decision risks even more people having to seek support. It makes no sense and will have a lasting impact on the lives of so many people already finding it difficult to afford life’s essentials.”
Recent research by Trussell indicated that three quarters (77%) of people getting Universal Credit and health or disability payments are already having to go without essentials. Four in 10 (43%) are already missing meals to try and keep up with other essential costs.
A fifth (19%) have had to turn to a food bank in just the last month.
Calling for a reversal of the proposals, Fry said: “Cuts should be for people who can best afford them, not for disabled people, who are amongst the most vulnerable and overlooked of all our population. The social security system should be rooted in justice and compassion, fairness and need. It’s not too late to rethink this.”
Television writer Jed Mercurio said: “While our social security system requires regular review and reform to ensure it targets people most in need, these cuts will only increase the likelihood of people living with a disability needing to use a food bank."
