Minister's comment on disability cuts receives backlash

A cabinet minister has faced criticism for making a controversial comparison between cuts to disability payments and reducing his children’s pocket money. Darren Jones, who is the deputy to Rachel Reeves, made the remark during an appearance on a BBC show. The government plans to cut the number of people eligible for Personal Independent Payments (PIP), aiming to save about £5 billion from public spending. An analysis from the Department for Work and Pensions suggests these cuts could result in an average loss of £4,500 a year for PIP recipients. Jones defended the cuts, saying the financial impact might not reflect potential new opportunities from government investments in training and jobs. He used the example of telling his kids they would get less pocket money but could earn more by working a Saturday job. His comments quickly drew backlash, including criticism from former Labour MPs and many people on social media. The debate continues over the effect these cuts will have on vulnerable individuals.