‘We've got to get the reforms through': PM insists he'll push ahead with welfare cuts
The prime minister insists he'll press ahead with planned welfare cuts, despite the threat of a major rebellion from his MPs.
As we near a vote on the benefit reforms in Parliament, an increasing number of backbench Labour MPs have signaled they will vote against the government, or have privately raised concerns about the plans.
Despite repeated calls to pause the cuts or rethink them altogether, the PM said 'we have got to get the reforms through, and I have been clear about that from start to finish.'
Starmer told reporters travelling to the G7 summit in Canada the government will be 'getting on with' implementing the shake-up of the welfare system.
He refused to answer when asked whether he felt he's got the numbers to get the reforms through Parliament.
'The principles remain the same - those who can work should work. Those who need supporting to work should have that support to work,' he said.
'The system is not working, it's not working for those that need support, it's not working for taxpayers.
'Everybody agrees it needs reform, we have got to reform it and that is what we intend to do,' he insisted.
The government plans to make it harder for disabled people to claim Personal Independence Payments (Pip), and to freeze universal credit incapacity benefits for existing claimants, while cutting them by 50% for new claimants.
The reforms are expected to save £5 billion from the ballooning welfare budget, but critics warn the move will push vulnerable people into poverty.
Despite the PM's words, the government is offering 'additional protections' for some of the people affected by the cuts, in order to try and appease MPs.
The Guardian revealed there would be a 13 week transition period for those who no longer qualify for PiP under the changes, along with further support during that time.
The newspaper also reported that the sickest benefit recipients with less than a year to live, and those with lifelong, incurable conditions will get a higher rate of universal credit and won't have to go through reassessments.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall will also bring in the 'right to work' scheme for people on health and disability benefits at the same time as the bill containing the cuts.
This week, Kendall rejected appeals from a committee of MPs to delay the changes, telling them 'we will not avoid or delay the decisive action needed to transform the system'.
MPs on the committee had said there needs to be a pause in implementing the reforms while the government carry out a full impact assessment.
But Kendall insisted there will be no delay, because the bill needs final sign off from Parliament by November this year for the changes to be in effect from 2026.
There are reports up to 170 Labour MPs have raised concerns about the cuts with the government.
ITV News understands that includes some senior backbenchers who work as Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPS) to ministers, and even one junior minister.
The legislation needed to bring in the changes is due to be introduced next week, with a vote expected in the week of the June 30.
It's unclear exactly how many MPs will vote against the plans, but it's likely to be the biggest rebellion of Starmer's premiership.
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