Hundreds of people in Glastonbury, Street, Wells and Shepton Mallet are on Personal Independence Payments (PIP), new figures show — as Somerset MP Sarah Dyke warned vulnerable constituents face being "plunged into poverty" by Government welfare reforms.

The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Reform Bill passed through Parliament this week with the support of 336 MPs — most of them Labour. But local MPs across Somerset, including Ms Dyke, voted against the bill, which critics say could strip support from thousands of disabled people.

Figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions show:

• Glastonbury: 565 out of 4,489 working-age adults are on PIP — 12.6%
• Street: 540 out of 5,054 — 10.7%
• Wells: 460 of 4,596 — 10%
• Shepton Mallet: 450 of 5,686 — 7.9%

Across the UK, the number of people on PIP has soared to 3.7 million, nearly double the figure before the pandemic. Mental health conditions and long-term illnesses such as Crohn's disease and fibromyalgia account for a growing number of claims.

Liberal Democrat Sarah Dyke, MP for Glastonbury and Somerton, took aim at the Government's approach in a speech to Parliament this week, describing the legislation as "botched" and warning it could devastate local lives.

"Jackie from Street suffers with Crohn's disease, fibromyalgia and mental health issues," she said. "She worked for most of her life until ill health made it impossible. Under the reforms, she will lose her entitlement to Personal Independence Payment and Employment Support Allowance, plunging her into poverty."

Ms Dyke accused ministers of rushing the reforms through without a full impact assessment and said the original proposals would have created a two-tier system, pushed carers out of entitlement, and punished those newly diagnosed with disabilities.

"This welfare bill has been botched from start to finish," she told MPs. "The scale of the rebellion from the Government's own party yesterday makes it clear how damaging and dangerous these reforms will be, and how harmful to the most vulnerable."

Although the Government has now rowed back on plans to strip PIP from existing claimants — like Jackie — Ms Dyke said the new criteria could still block future claimants in similar situations.

"The most vulnerable people in society and their carers, who rely on PIP to survive, must not be harmed any further by devastating cuts," she said. "We must urgently rebuild our health and social care systems to support people properly who are struggling with chronic illness, disability and pain, or caring for others who do."

Ms Dyke said she and fellow Liberal Democrats would continue to oppose the bill and urged the Government to work cross-party to create a system that was both fair and financially responsible.

John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, added:

"When nearly one in three working-age adults in some areas are on disability benefits, it's clear something has gone badly wrong.

PIP must be reformed to support those in genuine need, rather than becoming an easily accessible income stream."

The bill will now move into committee stage for further scrutiny, with final decisions due in the coming months. Ministers say they hope to save £3.8 billion by 2030, but campaigners warn the cost to disabled people's lives may be far greater.