Conservatives fear welfare reforms will not head off ‘tax rises' this autumn
Deputy Prime Minister Ms Rayner promised a debate on the welfare Bill next Tuesday as planned, despite 120 Labour MPs publicly backing a move to block the reforms.
She criticised the Conservatives for having 'no plan, no idea', amid Labour efforts to temper benefits spending.
But shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride warned that 'tax rises are coming' in this autumn's budget, with the number of benefits claimants set to rise.
Sir Mel asked: 'When you cut out the blather, isn't the reality that this Labour Government has condemned us to higher taxes, more debt, fewer jobs, more pain for businesses right up and down our country?
'Borrowing up, unemployment up, inflation up, yet (the Deputy Prime Minister) tells us the Government's plan is working.
'It's not just me who isn't convinced, the people behind her are not convinced either and neither are the public.
'In fact, I'm not even sure if (Ms Rayner) herself is convinced, so can I ask her, isn't she just a little embarrassed to be defending policies she doesn't even agree with herself?'
Shadow chancellor of the Exchequer Mel Stride (House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA)
At the despatch box, Ms Rayner replied: 'I'm proud we've got a huge boost to the minimum wage, the biggest uplift to affordable housing in a generation, and expanding free school meals to half a million children.
'The Tories' choice? Billions of pounds in unfunded tax cuts for the very wealthiest.
'We know where that gets us, it's the same old Tories' failed approach.
'They haven't listened and they haven't learned a thing.'
Earlier during Deputy Prime Minister's Questions, Ms Rayner vowed not to 'walk away and stand by and abandon millions of people trapped in the failing system left behind by him and his colleagues'.
Asked whether a vote on Tuesday 'will actually go ahead', including a potential vote on the reasoned amendment put forward by critics which would block the reforms, Ms Rayner replied that it 'will'.
Sir Mel continued: 'There you have it, there will be a vote in this House on Tuesday on the welfare Bill, although many on the backbenches could be forgiven for thinking they've heard this before with the winter fuel payment, where they were marched up the hill – and we all know where that story ended.
'But on this side of the House, we're absolutely clear, we will help her to get their Bill through, if they can commit to actually reducing the welfare bill and getting people off benefits and into work.
'Can (Ms Rayner) make that commitment right now, yes or no?'
Angela Rayner (left) said the Conservatives had no shame (House of Commons/UK Parliament)
The Deputy Prime Minister replied: 'Well, if ever we needed a reminder of the party opposite having no shame, it's their demands for this Bill.
'He demands a programme to help people into work – exactly what this Bill does – after he left one in eight young people out of the economy.'
She added: 'He demands further welfare savings, from the man who was in charge, as the welfare bill absolutely ballooned.
'They say cut welfare bill, they failed.
'They say put people in work, they failed.
'They say no tax increases, they failed.'
The reforms would 'see the number of people on welfare rising for every single year going forward' with 'no commitment' to cut the number of claimants, Sir Mel warned.
'And even if they manage to deliver these reforms, almost every respected economist now says tax rises are all but inevitable in the autumn,' he continued.
'But after the budget, the Chancellor (Rachel Reeves) said, and I quote, 'I'm not coming back for more taxes'.
'British businesses have been hit again and again by Labour's economic mismanagement.
'They are desperate for certainty, so can (the Deputy Prime Minister) give them that certainty now and repeat to the House the Chancellor's promise not to raise taxes at the budget?'
(PA Graphics)
Ms Rayner replied that the Tories had 'no plan, no idea' and added: 'This is a bit rich – unbelievable.
'Inflation above 11%, the biggest tax rises? By their party.
'I take no lectures and on this issue in particular, they can't make their minds up.
'First they said our reforms were taking too long, then they say they were rushed, then their front bench said our measures are too tough, and now they say they need to be tougher.'
Responding, Sir Mel said: 'The whole House will have heard that (Ms Rayner) did not repeat the Chancellor's promise not to raise taxes and Britain's businesses have today been put on notice – tax rises are coming.'
The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, if agreed, would restrict personal independence payment (Pip) eligibility and curb rises the sickness-related element of universal credit, with the aim of getting more people back into work and saving up to £5 billion a year.
Conservative MP for Fylde Andrew Snowden later asked Ms Rayner who she would sack if she were in charge of a reshuffle, and criticised Chancellor Ms Reeves 'for killing economic growth', Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall 'for the botched handling of the welfare Bill', and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Ms Rayner suggested Mr Snowden might want 'a go' at asking questions from the despatch box, in place of Sir Mel.
'I'm just wondering when they're going to give the shadow justice secretary (Robert Jenrick) a go,' she added
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
North Wales Chronicle
43 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Three committees complain of ‘inadequate consultation' over welfare reforms
A letter to Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall also said there had been a 'lack of robust data' to allow parliamentarians in the three areas to 'effectively scrutinise' the potential impact of the changes. The letter, sent by the Scottish Parliament's Social Justice and Social Security Committee together with the Equality and Social Justice Committee of the Welsh Senedd and the Northern Ireland Assembly's Committee for Communities, comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing a rebellion from Labour MPs against the proposed changes. We, alongside @nia_communities & @seneddequality, have jointly written to @leicesterliz, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to share our concerns about a lack of meaningful engagement on proposed changes to the UK benefits system. Read the letter: — Social Justice and Social Security Committee (@SP_SJSS) June 25, 2025 A Commons vote on the plans to squeeze sickness and incapacity benefits is due to go ahead on Tuesday, despite 120 Labour MPs having publicly backed a move to block the legislation. Meanwhile, the Work and Pensions Secretary was told there are 'significant concerns' about the Government's changes. The letter from the three committees told how the 'economic backdrop' for many of those claiming disability benefits is 'already extremely challenging'. And the committees added that the payments people receive 'are not symptomatic of a 'broken' system, but make a significant contribution to their health and wellbeing'. They told Ms Kendall they were 'agreed that inadequate consultation and engagement by the UK Government with stakeholders and the devolved institutions has contributed to this sense of concern'. Representatives from the committees added: 'In addition, the lack of robust data and jurisdiction-specific impact assessments presents significant challenges for our three committees to effectively scrutinise potential impacts.' Here they insisted they have been 'constrained by the lack of quality information'. They added: 'Our committees fully support the stated ambition that 'no-one should be consigned to a life on benefits just because they have a health condition or a disability, especially when they're able to and want to work with the right support in place'. 'However, in order to contribute meaningfully to the reform process, committees and citizens must be fully informed and offered every opportunity for meaningful engagement.' The UK Government has been contacted for comment.
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Three committees complain of ‘inadequate consultation' over welfare reforms
A letter to Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall also said there had been a 'lack of robust data' to allow parliamentarians in the three areas to 'effectively scrutinise' the potential impact of the changes. The letter, sent by the Scottish Parliament's Social Justice and Social Security Committee together with the Equality and Social Justice Committee of the Welsh Senedd and the Northern Ireland Assembly's Committee for Communities, comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing a rebellion from Labour MPs against the proposed changes. We, alongside @nia_communities & @seneddequality, have jointly written to @leicesterliz, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to share our concerns about a lack of meaningful engagement on proposed changes to the UK benefits system. Read the letter: — Social Justice and Social Security Committee (@SP_SJSS) June 25, 2025 A Commons vote on the plans to squeeze sickness and incapacity benefits is due to go ahead on Tuesday, despite 120 Labour MPs having publicly backed a move to block the legislation. Meanwhile, the Work and Pensions Secretary was told there are 'significant concerns' about the Government's changes. The letter from the three committees told how the 'economic backdrop' for many of those claiming disability benefits is 'already extremely challenging'. And the committees added that the payments people receive 'are not symptomatic of a 'broken' system, but make a significant contribution to their health and wellbeing'. They told Ms Kendall they were 'agreed that inadequate consultation and engagement by the UK Government with stakeholders and the devolved institutions has contributed to this sense of concern'. Representatives from the committees added: 'In addition, the lack of robust data and jurisdiction-specific impact assessments presents significant challenges for our three committees to effectively scrutinise potential impacts.' Here they insisted they have been 'constrained by the lack of quality information'. They added: 'Our committees fully support the stated ambition that 'no-one should be consigned to a life on benefits just because they have a health condition or a disability, especially when they're able to and want to work with the right support in place'. 'However, in order to contribute meaningfully to the reform process, committees and citizens must be fully informed and offered every opportunity for meaningful engagement.' The UK Government has been contacted for comment.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Not any time, any place, anywhere: Alcohol advertising curbs being considered by ministers as part of 10-year health plan
A clampdown on alcohol advertising is being considered by ministers, it emerged yesterday. In the latest sign of expansion of the 'nanny state', the Government confirmed it is looking at introducing 'partial restrictions' on booze ads among measures in its 10-year health plan. A draft of the document, due to be released next week, also suggested introducing new restrictions on licensing hours for shops and introducing Scottish-style minimum unit pricing. But Government sources yesterday ruled out these measures - though confirmed they were looking at curbs on alcohol advertising. The exact details of what the restrictions would look like have not been finalised. But critics last night lambasted the idea, and accused Labour of trying to 'hammer the final nail into the coffin' of the pub and beer industry. The advertising restrictions could mirror those for junk food, which are due to come into force in January - having been repeatedly delayed. It will mean adverts for 'less healthy' food and drink are banned before the watershed on TV, along with a total ban on paid-for online ads for junk food. The proposals, first revealed by Sky News, are expected to form part of Health Secretary Wes Streeting's 10-year health plan, which he will unveil next week. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told the Mail last night: 'If the pub and beer industry hadn't suffered enough, Labour are trying to hammer the final nail into the coffin.' And Tory shadow health minister Dr Caroline Johnson said: 'A complete ban on alcohol advertising would be absurd nanny statism from the Labour government. 'The Labour government should focus their attention on delivering NHS reform and finishing their 10 year plan, not wrapping up business in more red tape and regulations – particularly as they face their disastrous Jobs Tax and the looming spectre of the Employment's Rights Bill. 'The Conservatives, under Kemi Badenoch's leadership, will always stand for common sense, and against government overreach. Labour should urgently set out what evidence there is for such a measure.' A Department for Health and Social Care spokesman said last night: 'The 10-year health plan will not include a ban on alcohol advertising. 'We are exploring options for partial restrictions to bring it closer in line with advertising of unhealthy food.' Slogans from some alcohol adverts have become almost as well known as the drinks Last month a report warned that freedoms in Britain are declining at a faster rate than almost anywhere else in Europe. The 'nanny state' index ranked the UK as the 7th worst place on the continent to eat, drink, smoke and vape. The index, published by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) and the European Policy Information Centre (EPICENTER), scored countries on how they regulate lifestyle choices. As well as the junk food ad ban, other nanny state measures include a recent ban on sales of single-use or 'disposable' vapes - whether or not they contain nicotine. Legislation is also making its way through Parliament which will ban tobacco sales to anybody born on or after January 1 2009. And Sir Keir Starmer wants to introduce supervised toothbrushing for young children.
