More than half of Labour MPs in England and Wales have a greater number of disability benefit claimants in their constituency than the size of their electoral majority, it was reported this week. Specifically, 212 of Labour's 366 seats in England and Wales have a higher number of constituents claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP) than their MP's majority.
Additionally, over 100 Labour MPs have more claimants for mental health conditions, including anxiety, ADHD, and autism, than their majorities. This trend is also observed among other parties, with Conservative MP Helen Whately and Reform UK's Robert Jenrick also having more PIP claimants than their majorities in their respective constituencies.
In the 2025/26 financial year, the UK is projected to spend almost £335bn on social security and welfare benefits, which represents 10.6 per cent of GDP. As of 2026, over 4 million adults in England and Wales claim PIP.