Starmer: Labour will not take away ‘safety net' from vulnerable people

Powys County Times

6 hours ago

Sir Keir Starmer has said 'everyone agrees' the welfare system needs to be fixed but that Labour will not 'take away the safety net' that vulnerable people rely on.
In a speech to the Welsh Labour conference that came after a major U-turn on reforms in the face of a backbench rebellion, he said fixing the 'broken' system must be done in a 'Labour way'.
'We cannot take away the safety net that vulnerable people rely on, and we won't, but we also can't let it become a snare for those who can and want to work,' the Prime Minister said.
'Everyone agrees that our welfare system is broken: failing people every day, a generation of young people written off for good and the cost spiralling out of control.
'Fixing it is a moral imperative, but we need to do it in a Labour way.'
He called Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan a 'fierce champion' and 'the best person to lead Wales into the future' to applause and cheers from the audience.
Baroness Morgan had publicly criticised the welfare plans and called for Sir Keir to change tack on restrictions on winter fuel payments, which he also eventually reversed.
Sir Keir Starmer told the BBC she was 'right to raise concerns' and promised to 'deliver on those as far as we can'.
In her speech to the conference, Baroness Morgan said she was pleased the Government listened to her concerns and reversed planned welfare cuts.
'I'm glad the UK Government is a listening government and they heard our concerns and changed their approach to welfare cuts,' she said.
'We were really concerned about the impact these changes could have on some of our poorest and most vulnerable communities, and we made that clear to our colleagues in Westminster.
'And I am really glad they listened because that decision brings huge and welcome relief to thousands of people in Wales who rely on this support to live with dignity.'
Farmers gathered outside the conference in Llandudno to protest ahead of Sir Keir's speech, with about 20 tractors parked on the promenade in the north Wales resort town by late morning.
Later, some 150 protesters joined a march for Palestine outside the conference, walking solemnly to the venue where they stood for a few minutes to the beat of a drum.
A small group of pro-Israel protesters shouted 'free the hostages' and held signs saying 'free Gazans from Hamas'.
Sir Keir also said any deal between the Tories, Reform UK and Plaid Cymru at next year's key elections in Wales would amount to a 'backroom stitch-up'.
The elections to the Senedd will use a proportional system for the first time, meaning coalitions are likely.
The Prime Minister said it would risk a 'return to the chaos and division of the last decade' and risk rolling back the progress his party is starting to make.
He told the Llandudno conference it would be 'working families left to pick up the bill'.
'Whether that's with Reform or with Plaid's determination to cut Wales off from the rest of the country, with no plan to put Wales back together,' he said.
'I know that these are the parties that talk a big game, but who is actually delivering?'
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has not ruled out making deals with Plaid Cymru or Reform at the next Senedd election.
Reform UK is eyeing an opportunity to end Labour's 26 years of domination in the Welsh Parliament.
Labour performed poorly in this year's local elections in England, which saw Nigel Farage's party win a swathe of council seats.
Sir Keir also took aim at Mr Farage, calling him a 'wolf in Wall Street clothing' who has 'no idea what he's talking about'.
He said the Reform UK leader 'isn't interested in Wales' and has no viable plan for the blast furnaces at Port Talbot.
More than half of voters think Labour has underperformed since Sir Keir became prime minister, polling released on Saturday showed.
The Opinium survey showed 54% think Labour has done a worse job than expected, while 18% think the party has exceeded expectations.