Labor lawmakers threaten UK PM Starmer with revolt over welfare reforms
More than 100 British Labor lawmakers have supported a move to try to block Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government from changing the welfare system, saying the package does not provide for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.
In what could be a major blow to Starmer a year after he came to power with a large majority in parliament, Labor lawmakers have spearheaded a plan to kill the government's welfare bill at a vote due next week.
Due to a ballooning welfare system, Labor had in March said it planned to cut more than five billion pounds ($6.48 billion) from its welfare budget by 2029/30.
The lawmakers, including the heads of select committees which probe government policy, have tabled a 'reasoned amendment,' used to express opposition to a proposed law.
If that amendment is selected by parliament's speaker and then passed in next week's vote, it would halt the proposed law.
Starmer has said welfare reform is essential to protect benefits for those who need them and get more people back into work.
The welfare bill had been on course to top 100 billion pounds ($129 billion) by 2030, partly as Britain has one of the highest reported rates of working-age people out of work due to ill health among European peers.
The government has argued that its proposed welfare budget cuts by 2029/30 would be backed by support for people using benefits to get back into work.
Even though ministers have tried to soften the impact of changes to the sickness-related part of Universal Credit benefits and to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), designed to cover disability-related costs, dozens of lawmakers are still opposed.
In their amendment, the Labor lawmakers declined to support the progress of the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.
They said the bill contained 'dangerous and counterproductive cuts to entitlements aimed at disabled people' and lacked 'measures to take proper account of the needs of people with ... long-term conditions.'
One Labor lawmaker who supports the government said the amendment was 'very awkward' but that ministers might yet try to contain the scale of the potential rebellion.
($1 = 0.7350 pounds)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
41 minutes ago
- Arab News
Lyon handed Ligue 2 relegation by financial regulator
LYON: Seven-time Ligue 1 champions Lyon have been relegated to the second-tier by French football's financial watchdog, the French professional league (LFP) announced on Tuesday. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport During a hearing earlier in the day, Lyon were unable to convince the regulator (DNCG) to lift the restrictions it had put on the club in November. Lyon can appeal the decision. Before the meeting, Lyon's president John Textor said he was confident of avoiding the drop to Ligue 2 for next season, where the club has not played since 1989. 'We have made a variety of investments in recent weeks,' he said. 'Everything is good financially.' American Textor sold his 43 percent stake in Premier League outfit Crystal Palace earlier in the week. Lyon have reduced their salary bill and sold Rayan Cherki to Manchester City and Maxence Caqueret to Como. Lyon qualified for next season's Europa League after finishing sixth in the French top-flight. If their relegation is confirmed, they would be replaced in Ligue 1 by Reims. Lyon won seven consecutive French titles between 2002 and 2008. Only five clubs have won Ligue 1 more often. Paris Saint-Germain hold the record with 13 titles.
Arab News
2 hours ago
- Arab News
Major UK supermarket chain to stop sourcing Israeli products
LONDON: One of Britain's largest supermarket chains will stop sourcing Israeli products following a sustained Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign. The Co-operative supermarket said the decision was made due to Israeli human rights abuses and violations of international law. It comes into effect this month. In May, a motion at the Co-op annual general meeting calling for an end to trade with Israel received overwhelming support. The supermarket board's decision covers 17 'countries of concern,' including Israel. Co-op will now launch a phased approach to begin removing products sourced from the 17 countries. The BDS campaign, led by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, saw the Co-op board commit to a 'sourcing policy aligned with established co-operative values, upholding human rights and the rule of law to promote fair trading and peace.' The supermarket will now avoid sourcing products from countries where 'there is consistent behavior which would constitute community-wide human rights abuses or violations of international law.' Through the new policy, Co-op believes it 'can make a difference directly or indirectly to those affected and would alleviate suffering.' Israel is a major exporter of fruit and vegetables to the UK, and its products are widely stocked at British supermarkets, including as ingredients in larger items. A number of Israeli farms operate facilities in the occupied West Bank, in settlements that are illegal under international law. PSC hailed Co-op's decision as a 'major victory.' It follows the 'Don't Buy Apartheid' campaign that the organization conducted this year, urging a widespread boycott of Israeli products in British shops, restaurants and venues. Ben Jamal, PSC director, said: 'This is a seismic victory for the Palestinian solidarity movement in this country, which demands that the government, institutions and corporations end all economic, political and military support for the state of Israel, which is conducting a live streamed genocide in Gaza after decades of military occupation and imposing a system of apartheid on Palestinians. 'The Co-op, as befits its history, has shown great moral courage and ethical principle in deciding that it cannot ignore voices from the British public calling out Israel's gross human rights abuses and violations of international law — and even more importantly, it cannot economically support that regime through doing business in Israel. 'This beacon of leadership must now be taken up by all other supermarket chains which continue to sell Israeli goods, despite knowing they are supporting its war crimes.'
Arab News
5 hours ago
- Arab News
UK government says Chinese spying on the rise
LONDON: Chinese spying and attempts by Beijing to undermine Britain's democracy and economy have risen in recent years, the UK government said Tuesday in a report on the Asian giant. Foreign minister David Lammy told parliament the Labour administration would invest £600 million ($818 million) in its intelligence services as a result of the findings. Prime Minister Keir Starmer commissioned an 'audit' of Britain's relations with Beijing after he swept to power in landslide general election win last July. The report, published on Tuesday, recommended high-level engagement with China for a 'trade and investment relationship' but also building 'resilience' against threats posed by Beijing. 'We understand that China is a sophisticated and persistent threat,' but 'not engaging with China is therefore no choice at all,' Lammy told MPs. 'Like our closest allies, we will co-operate where we can and we will challenge where we must,' he said, vowing that meant 'never compromising on our national security.' Starmer has vowed to pursue a 'consistent' relationship after the previous Conservative government first trumpeted a 'golden era' of close diplomatic ties before relations became increasingly strained. The British PM hopes Chinese investment can help him achieve his main mission of firing up Britain's economy. But differences over Russia's war in Ukraine, Beijing's treatment of Uyghurs and Hong Kong — including the imprisonment of media mogul Jimmy Lai — pose hurdles to repairing relations. In a joint letter coordinated by Reporters Without Borders, 33 organizations around the globe wrote to Starmer on Tuesday asking him to meet Lai's son Sebastian. 'As a British citizen facing an unthinkable ordeal, Sebastien Lai deserves to hear first-hand from the Prime Minister what the UK is doing to secure his father's release,' said the letter, which was signed by groups including Amnesty International UK and Human Rights Foundation. Espionage allegations have also blighted the relationship in recent years, including claims that a Chinese businessman used his links with Britain's Prince Andrew to spy for the Communist report noted that 'instances of China's espionage, interference in our democracy and the undermining of our economic security have increased in recent years.' 'Our national security response will therefore continue to be threat-driven, bolstering our defenses and responding with strong counter-measures,' the government said. Starmer's administration is due to rule on whether to approve Beijing's controversial plans to open the biggest embassy in Britain at a new London location. Residents, rights groups and China hawks oppose the development, fearing it could be used for the surveillance and harassment of dissidents.
