DISABLED people and left MPs are mobilising against “appalling” welfare cuts expected to be announced by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall on Tuesday.

Ministers were threatened with the “mother of all rebellions” in Parliament after refusing to rule out reducing disability benefits for those unable to work today.

Ms Kendall promised to ensure “trust and fairness in the social security system” amid growing fury at government plans to cut the cost of the benefits bill.

But as the Commons heard of the “literal terror” the cuts are causing vulnerable claimants, social security and disability minister Stephen Timms refused to say disability benefits won’t be cut for those who can’t work, while telling MPs: “We are absolutely fully supporting them too.”

Ms Kendall added she was concerned over the number of young people not working due to mental health conditions rising by more than 25 per cent in the last year to 270,000.

But Disabled People Against Cuts (Dpac) co-founder Linda Burnip said: “Mental health services have almost disappeared over the past 15 years, which together with increasing levels of poverty due to austerity has led to an increase in the number of people affected and needing — but being denied — treatment and support.

“Both of these factors have been a political choice which of course started with Labour Lord Freud back in 2008.

“It is shocking to find the current Labour Party seems happy to continue to demonise disabled people and push them further and further into poverty and destitution.

“Dpac has had literally hundreds of new membership requests in the past 10 days and as it seems disabled people will have nothing to lose — we are certain that our National Day of Action on March 26 will be well supported.”

Amid mounting backbench pressure, Downing Street claimed today there was a “moral and economic case” for reforming benefits as it denied that the plans were about saving money.

The number of people in England and Wales claiming either sickness or disability benefit has risen from 2.8 million to about 4 million since 2019.

The benefits bill was £48 billion in 2023-24 and is forecast to continue rising to what the government says is an “unsustainable” £67bn in 2029-30.

But an outcry from left MPs, unions and campaigners over the expected cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP), the main disability benefit, continued to grow alongside calls for a wealth tax today.

A spokeswoman for left campaign group Momentum said: “The majority of Labour voters, members, and trade unionists are opposed to these appalling cuts.

“This opposition is likely to grow the more that Starmer et al pursue austerity policies.

“Labour MPs should listen to voices within the movement and disability campaigners, and vote in line with their principles rather than based on what the Whip tells them.”

Labour MP Richard Burgon said: "The government must abandon any idea of balancing the books on the backs of the poorest and disabled.

“Instead, those with the broadest shoulders should be made to pay their fair share — that’s the Labour way to tackle financial challenges.

“Labour MPs didn’t enter politics to push vulnerable people deeper into poverty.

“Week after week, they see in their surgeries the real lives that would be devastated by these cuts.

“So the Prime Minister must understand that pushing ahead with these cruel plans would spark the mother of all rebellions.”

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn MP added: “Every week, I speak to people in my constituency going through stress and anxiety.

“Many are worried about feeding their kids, paying the rent, losing vital benefits or falling into debt. Britain’s mental health crisis is the result of political choices.

“By waging war on the poor and disabled, this government is choosing to push more people into despair.”

Public and Commercial Services union general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Targeting the most vulnerable with benefit cuts to meet arbitrary fiscal rules is an abhorrent choice at any time, but at a time of rising poverty, long NHS waiting lists and when the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite is appalling.”

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has agreed that the welfare system needed “a radical overhaul” but urged the government to focus on helping people into work rather than simply cutting benefits.

Left Labour MP Diane Abbott has said cutting benefits is “not a Labour thing to do” as she backed calls for a wealth tax, a measure supported by unions.

Green party MP Sian Berry said: “Now is the time to tax extreme wealth and stop punishing the poorest and most vulnerable.”