MORE than 30 MPs have indicated they will vote against the government’s welfare cuts, the Morning Star understands.

The growing rebellion includes 20 Labour backbenchers who have publicly said they would oppose the swingeing cuts to disability benefits and seven more who have criticised the proposals.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced the so-called “biggest shake up to the welfare system in a generation” last week in a bid to cut the country’s benefits bill by around £5 billion. The proposals would restrict eligibility for personal independence payment while also cutting and freezing the health element of universal credit for new claimants.

A spokeswoman for left Labour campaign Momentum said: “It’s clear this will be a major rebellion.

“It is great to see more MPs willing to put principles before their careers.

“But far more need to speak and and commit to voting against these appalling cuts.”

Labour MP for Leeds East Richard Burgon launched a petition today demanding a wealth tax instead of devastating cuts to disability support, saying he would present it in Parliament “ahead of any vote on these cruel cuts – as part of the campaign we need to get as many MPs as possible to vote down these cuts.”

The petition, which more than 4,000 people had signed by the time the Morning Star went to press, stated: “We oppose the government’s plan to balance the books by targeting disabled people and the most disadvantaged in our society.”

It said that “the very wealthiest should be made to pay their fair share.

“A 2 per cent wealth tax on assets over £10 million could raise up to £24bn per year.

“That’s far more than the £5bn the government claims it will ‘save’ by cutting key financial support for disabled people.”