Angela Rayner pressed on welfare changes and confirms vote will go ahead next week

BBC News

5 hours ago

Update:
Date: 12:56 BST
Title: Welfare rebellion to test Starmer like never before
Content: All of a sudden, this is a grave crisis for Sir Keir Starmer, perhaps the gravest of his year in Downing Street so far.
Politically, it looks very hard for the government to proceed with its flagship welfare policies.
Economically, it is very hard to see how the government cannot proceed.
Labour whips, we are told, have been jumping up and down for weeks trying to warn their colleagues in 10 and 11 Downing Street that the rebellion over the welfare reforms (or, depending on which wing of the Labour Party you are speaking to, welfare cuts) was shaping up to be much bigger than anticipated.
Still, the numbers involved in the amendment published overnight - 123 and rising - are breathtaking.
The stakes are impossibly high. Pulling the bill would raise serious questions about the prime minister's authority. Pressing ahead and losing would raise even more.
The prime minister's credibility and authority are on the line like never before.
Update:
Date: 12:48 BST
Title: Corbyn presses Rayner over UK support for Israel
Content: Rayner has just given her final answer, in response to a question about Gaza from independent MP Jeremy Corbyn, a former Labour MP and party leader.
After accusing the Israeli military of "genocide" in its war there, he asks her why Britain still supplies parts for Israeli fighter jets and how has the UK got on the wrong side of international law?
She says the UK strongly opposes Israel expanding military operations in Gaza, its blocking of humanitarian aid, as well as Jewish settler violence in the occupied West Bank.
Rayner adds the UK has suspended trade agreement talks with Israel and sanctioned individual settlers.
On whether Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians, she says, that is something for international courts to decide.
And with that we've come to the end of Prime Minister's Questions for another week.
Update:
Date: 12:34 BST
Title: Rayner says armed forces represent 'the best of Britain'
Content: From the backbenches, there's a question on defence from Labour MP Bayo Alaba.
He asks how the government will rebuild Britain and secure the country's defence for the future.
Rayner agrees that the armed forces represent "the very best of Britain".
She then says that it's the government's responsibility to support them, adding that the strategic defence review sets out a vision for defence that will drive jobs and "secure Britain into the future".
Update:
Date: 12:26 BST
Title: 'Will you use Trump visit to call for Ukraine security guarantees?'
Content: Cooper is now asking Rayner about US President Donald Trump's scheduled state visit to the UK.
She asks if the government will "urgently convene talks with the White House" beforehand, in order to "leverage that state visit to secure US guarantees for Ukraine".
In particular, she asks about the use of frozen Russian state assets, and sending a joint UK-US message to Putin that the two countries "will not let Putin win his illegal war".
Rayner says the government is having constant communications with the White House, and is "really pleased" Trump is coming for a second state visit.
Update:
Date: 12:25 BST
Title: Lib Dems raise impact welfare reforms could have on carers
Content: Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper says her party is opposed to cuts to Pip and carers' allowance, and says with a "growing rebellion on the government's own benches", the government may have to rely on the Tories to get them passed.
Some will be affected by these changes are still waiting for justice after the "carers' allowance scandal" saw "thousands of innocent carers hounded for repayments", she says.
She asks for a guarantee that "at the very least" not a single person will lose a penny until a review of the "scandal" has been completed and recommendations implemented.
Rayner says the government has already taken steps on this issue and will continue to do so, and repeats that the welfare system is failing people.
The bill will deliver the largest permanent real-terms increase to basic out of work support since the 1980s, she says.
Update:
Date: 12:21 BST
Title: Rayner welfare reform assurance may kill growing U-turn speculation
Content: Joe PikePolitical & Investigations Correspondent
The most notable line so far today is Angela Rayner's assurance that there will be no U-turn on Labour's controversial welfare policy and MPs will vote on the issue on Tuesday.
'We will go ahead on Tuesday', the Deputy PM told MPs.
Such a clear position leaves the government with little wiggle room. If they change now, Rayner will be left looking a little silly.
But her punchy statement may help kill the growing speculation amongst Labour MPs that the welfare bill is to be pulled by No 10 later today.
Update:
Date: 12:19 BST
Title: Tories want unfunded tax cuts for the wealthy, Rayner says
Content: Stride is back on his feet for his final question.
Isn't the reality that the government has condemned the public to higher taxes, more debt, and fewer jobs, with borrowing and inflation up, he asks?
The shadow chancellor says the people behind Rayner aren't convinced by her argument that Labour's plans are working - and nor are the public.
He finishes by asking her if she is embarrassed to defend policies that she doesn't agree with.
Rayner hits back that she is embarrassed every week when Tories refuse to apologise for what they've done in the previous government.
She goes on to list some of Labour's policies, including expanding free school meals and an uplift in affordable housing.
Meanwhile, Rayner says the Conservatives choose unfunded tax cuts for the very wealthiest. "It's the same old Tories' failed approach," she says.
Update:
Date: 12:16 BST
Title: Stride says council tax rises are coming despite government assurances
Content: Stride says the whole Commons has heard that Rayner did not repeat the Chancellor's promise not to raise taxes.
He adds that increases in council tax are coming despite the government's assurances taxes won't for working people.
Rayner says Stride has an "absolute nerve" when council tax rose every single year under the Conservative government.
"We've kept it there, Mr Speaker," she says. "While they have austerity, put taxes up and ruin the British economy."
Update:
Date: 12:15 BST
Title: Rayner accuses Tories of hypocrisy after Stride asks about tax rises
Content: Stride says there is no commitment from Rayner to cut the number of people on welfare.
Even if they manage to deliver these reforms, he says "almost every respected economist" now says tax rises are all but inevitable in the autumn.
He quotes the chancellor as saying she wouldn't come back for more taxes after the last budget, adding that people are desperate for certainty, challenging Rayner to repeat that commitment not to raise taxes.
Rayner says "this is a bit rich", and attacks the Conservative's own record, saying they introduced the "biggest tax rises".
She says the Tories can't make their minds up, accusing them of saying they are going too quickly, too slowly, being too tough and not tough enough.
Update:
Date: 12:13 BST
Title: Stride goes after a divided Labour leadership
Content: Joe PikePolitical & Investigations Correspondent
Mel Stride's strategy seems to be to highlight every supposed division in the Labour Party - between Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves over tax policy, between Rayner and Starmer over the direction of the government, and between the PM and his 120 rebels on welfare policy.
The deputy PM returns again and again to the regular Labour refrain: blaming the last government.
Rayner speaks of the 'failing system left behind by him and his colleagues' to cheers from the Labour backbenches.
Update:
Date: 12:11 BST
Title: 'Will you commit to getting people off benefits and into work?'
Content: Stride says that the Conservatives are clear that they will help Labour get through the welfare bill - but only if the government commits to getting people off benefits and into work.
He asks whether Rayner can commit to this right now, yes or no?
The deputy PM responds that Stride is demanding a programme to get people into work - which is exactly what this bill does.
She then suggests that the Conservatives failed to deliver on their own promises of cuts and improved welfare spending.
Update:
Date: 12:09 BST
Title: Rayner says government 'will go ahead' with welfare reform vote
Content: Stride is up at the dispatch box again, asking if Rayner can guarantee that a vote on welfare changes will go ahead on Tuesday.
Rayner stands up swiftly to answer.
"What I can tell him, and I don't need a script, we will go ahead on Tuesday," she says.
It's a lively atmosphere in the chamber today, with plenty of jeers and heckling from the benches.
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Rayner confirms welfare vote will go ahead next week as she defends reforms
Update:
Date: 12:07 BST
Title: We won't abandon millions trapped in failing system, Rayner says
Content: Rayner says the government is pressing ahead with welfare forms to invest in employment support and ending reassessments for the most severely disabled.
"We won't walk away and stand by and abandon millions of people trapped in the failing system left behind by him and his colleagues," she says.
Update:
Date: 12:06 BST
Title: Stride presses Rayner over 122 potential Labour rebels
Content: Standing in for Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, shadow chancellor Mel Stride has his first question for Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
He jokes that he has a "great deal in common" with Rayner - that both disagree with the Chancellor's tax policies.
Stride then makes reference to the 122 Labour MPs who oppose the upcoming welfare bill.
Why does Rayner think she is right and 122 of her colleagues is wrong, he asks?
Update:
Date: 12:02 BST
Title: We're off!
Content: Rayner is at the dispatch box and the chamber has filled with MPs.
Follow along for live updates or stream it by pressing Watch Live at the top of this page.
Update:
Date: 12:01 BST
Title: Rayner has difficult job as Labour welfare rebellion grows
Content: Joe PikePolitical & Investigations Correspondent
While Keir Starmer meets world leaders at the Nato summit, back at home the Labour rebellion over welfare reforms is growing.
Government ministers insist the policy isn't changing, but some argue a position where you have 120 Labour rebels is not sustainable.
Angela Rayner has the difficult job of deputising for him at PMQs and fielding questions about proposed cuts to disability benefits.
Look out for the mood of the MPs sitting behind her - stony faces or loyal cheers?
Shadow chancellor Mel Stride is standing in for Kemi Badenoch. He would be mad to miss this opportunity to highlight and revel in Labour's problems.
Update:
Date: 11:56 BST
Title: PMQs about to begin
Content: Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has just taken her seat in the chamber, so we're now just minutes away from the start of Prime Minister's Questions.
We'll bring you the key updates as they happen - as always, you can see all the action for yourself by clicking watch live at the top of this page.
Update:
Date: 11:55 BST
Title: How are welfare payments changing?
Content: Let's take a look at some of the changes to the benefits system the government is seeking to implement - and which are causing some push back from several MPs.
How is Pip changing?
Pip, or personal independent payments, are made up of daily living and mobility payments.
Pip is assessed by working out someone's ability to carry out basic tasks, like showering or cooking a meal, and graded from zero for no difficulty to 12 for severe difficulty.
Under the new proposals, you would need to score at least four points for each activity to meet the minimum criteria. Payments for mobility will not be affected.
What about universal credit?
The government is also likely to make changes to universal credit.
The basic level of universal credit is worth £393.45 a month to a single person who is 25 or over.
Under the government's proposals, claimants will not be able to get this incapacity top-up until they are aged 22 or over.
New claimants will also see this top-up fall from £97 extra per week in 2025-26 to £50 a week by 2026-27, before being frozen until the end of 2029-30.
The higher rate for existing health-related claimants will also be frozen for the same period.
At the same time, the basic payment level for universal credit will rise.
Who will be affected?
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has said that it expects 3.2 million families to lose out as a result of the total package of measures, with an average loss of £1,720 per year.
Update:
Date: 11:51 BST
Title: Benefit revolt brews as more Labour MPs ready to reject welfare cuts
Content: More than 130 MPs, including 120 from the Labour benches,
have signed an amendment that would give them the opportunity to vote on a
proposal to reject the government's plan to reform the welfare system.
These proposals would cut disability and sickness-related benefits
payments to save £5 billion a year by 2030.
Among those to sign the letter are two MPs who were elected for Labour
but have been suspended by the party - John McDonnell and Andrew Gwynne.
Cabinet ministers are reported to be among those ringing
round Labour MPs, calling on them to remove their names from the amendment. Only one Labour MP, Samantha Niblett, has
removed her name from the list so far.
The welfare reform bill - called the Universal Credit and
Personal Independence Payment Bill - will include proposals to make it harder
for disabled people with less severe conditions to claim personal independence
payments (Pip).
Keir Starmer has vowed to "press ahead" with the welfare changes and Parliament is due to vote on the government's plans next week.
Update:
Date: 11:46 BST
Title: Where is the prime minister?
Content: As we've mentioned, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer won't be in the House of Commons today to answer questions from MPs.
That's because he's currently in The Hague to attend the Nato summit, where he and other leaders are expected to commit to spending 5% of national output on defence and related infrastructure.