More than half of Labour MPs represent seats where there is a greater number of disability benefit claimants than the size of their majority, an analysis has revealed.
Some 212 Labour MPs in England and Wales have more constituents on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) than their winning margin at the 2024 general election.
This is 58 per cent of the party's total 366 seats across the two countries, the analysis by The Times found.
It also showed that more than 100 Labour MPs have more PIP claimants for mental health conditions - such as anxiety, ADHD and autism - than the size of their majority.
Since becoming Prime Minister, Andy Burnham has promised to 'get really serious' about reducing Britain's ballooning welfare bill.
But he has ruled out 'crude cuts' to benefits amid warnings of a fresh revolt by Labour MPs if he pursues a 'punitive' approach to slashing welfare spending.
Mr Burnham also told the House of Commons earlier this month that national security 'cannot come at the expense of social security'.
It came after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch piled further pressure on the PM to cut the benefits bill in order to boost defence spending.
Andy Burnham told the House of Commons earlier this month than national security 'cannot come at the expense of social security' as he was challenged over benefits spending
The number of people claiming PIP, the main disability benefit in England and Wales, has climbed to a record high with a total of 4.09m people entitled to the benefit as of July this year
The number of people claiming PIP, the main disability benefit in England and Wales, has climbed to a record high with a total of 4.09 million people entitled to the benefit as of July this year.
It is the main benefit paid to someone who has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, and is intended to help with everyday tasks and extra living costs. The benefit is not means-tested and is worth up to £194 a week.
Spending on PIP stood at £16.3billion in 2019-20, when adjusted for inflation to today's prices, and had increased to £27.3billion by 2024-25, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures show.
It is currently forecast to rise to £41.5billion by 2030-31.
Pat McFadden, who is in charge of the benefits system in his role as Work and Pensions Secretary, is among those Labour MPs with more PIP claimants in his constituency than the size of his majority.
DWP data shows there are 11,646 recipients of PIP in Mr McFadden's Wolverhampton South East seat - which is greater than his 9,188-vote majority at the 2024 general election.
Similarly, Mr Burnham won a 9,231-vote majority at the Makerfield by-election in June this year, which allowed him to return to the Commons to become PM.
There were 8,776 PIP claimants in the Greater Manchester constituency as of July.
The analysis found there are 89 Labour MPs who have double the number of PIP claimants as votes in their majority.
A Government-commissioned review into the costs and operation of the disability benefits system is set to be published this autumn.
The review, led by social security minister Sir Stephen Timms, branded the system 'no longer fit for purpose' in its interim findings in July.
Senior Tory MP Helen Whatley, the shadow work and pensions secretary, said: 'Welfare should be a safety net, not a lifestyle choice.
'Yet Labour have made benefits easier to claim and jobs harder to get. Reform of welfare takes courage. It also requires a mandate from the public. Labour has neither.
'Only the Conservatives have a plan to cut the welfare bill, tighten PIP eligibility for lower-level mental health conditions and help more people back into work, getting Britain working again.'
John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'Ministers cannot allow electoral self-interest to become a veto on fixing a welfare system.
'With millions now claiming PIP, ducking difficult reform because MPs fear for their majorities would be an abdication of responsibility.
'Welfare policy should be set by what is sustainable and fair for taxpayers, not by the size of MPs' majorities.'
A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions said: 'The Timms review interim report made clear that PIP is no longer fit for purpose.
'The recommendations from the final report, due in autumn, will pave the way for sustainable reform.
'This comes on top of action we are already taking to fix the broken welfare system, including by increasing face-to-face assessments and extending award review periods to deliver savings of around £2billion while removing unnecessary pressure on disabled people.'