Latest news with #CliveEfford
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Starmer survives rebellion as welfare cuts pass key vote
Sir Keir Starmer has been handed a new major headache by his own MPs tonight as 49 opposed his plan to cut welfare payments despite the bill being gutted to avoid it being thrown out altogether. Ministers had taken drastic action as furious MPs lined up in the Commons to attack the plan to make it harder to claim Personal Independence Payments (Pip) and health-related universal credit. But even after a pledge to remove the Pip elements entirely, pending a review expected to take until next summer, almost 50 refused to back the shell of what was left. The total of 49 was higher than the 44 who had backed a 'reasoned amendment' to the bell - a piece of Commons machinery which would have killed it off completely. Labour MP Clive Efford, who voted against the Bill and co-signed an amendment that would have halted it at second reading, said the Government's late minute U-turn was not a good look to the public. The MP for Eltham and Chislehurst said: 'I've never seen a Bill in front of the House being salami sliced bit-by-bit like this, in order to get it over the line. It's definitely not the way to produce legislation. 'I mean I don't know what disabled people looking on will have made of today's process, but it didn't put the Government in a good light.' He said he was unsurprised the Government won the vote, but said the Government had been sent a message about the strength of opposition. 'The Government's got a huge majority, it takes a lot to defeat. It's nonetheless a significant number of us made a stand, which I mean needed to be done.' Those voting against it included the former shadow minister for the disabled, Marsha de Cordova. Vicky Foxcroft, who quit as a whip last week because of concerns about the bill, voted for it in its weakened state. Despite being titled the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, the legislation now contains no measures relating to Pip. The respected IFS think-tank said that accounted for £2.6billion of the savings the government had hoped for by 2029-30. Curbs to the health element of Universal Credit should have eased spending by £1.7billion, but that was due to be offset by £1.8billion on raising the basic rate. Researcher Tom Waters said that left an additional cost of £100million by 2029-30. Agonisingly for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the delay almost certainly means the Office for Budget Responsibility cannot 'score' the savings in time for her Budget. As a result the black hole in the government's books is likely to be even bigger than feared. Concerns were already running high that Ms Reeves will have to hike taxes to stabilised the public finances. In 12 hours of carnage at Westminster, the PM's carefully-assembled truce with rebels dramatically disintegrated. Facing the threat of a massive revolt, Sir Keir opted make yet another major concession just 90 minutes before the vote. Ministers pledged that changes to disability handouts will not be finalised until after a review - meaning that the package as it stands will actually make the current system more expensive than before. Sir Keir - who is days away from marking the first anniversary of his election landslide - had already agreed that the benefits curbs would only apply to new claimants. There was mocking laughter in the chamber as Social Security Minister Stephen Timms was asked how much the proposals would save now, and merely replied that the government would 'set out figures in the usual way'. Despite the humiliating manoeuvres, when the vote was held 44 Labour MPs still backed the fatal amendment and others abstained - although it was comfortably defeated by 328 to 149. Shortly afterwards the Bill cleared second reading stage by 335 to 260, majority 75. It will now be scrutinised at committee. A clearly crestfallen Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall tried to put a brave face on the shambles afterwards, acknowledging there were 'lessons to be learned' but the party was '100 per cent' behind the PM. 'I think people are 100 per cent behind a Prime Minister that secured the first Labour Government in 14 years,' she said. But rebel Labour MP Brian Leishman said ministers should still withdraw the Bill despite it passing second reading. The MP for Alloa and Grangemouth had also voted in favour of the cross-party amendment that would have stopped the Bill before second reading. He said: 'Today was a prime example in how not to legislate. 'A shambolic afternoon with policy being made up off the cuff and on the notion of promises to come.
Daily Mail
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Keir Starmer hit by new major rebellion as 49 Labour MPs refuse to back his government's welfare cuts - was YOURS among them?
Sir Keir Starmer has been handed a new major headache by his own MPs tonight as 49 opposed his plan to cut welfare payments despite the bill being gutted to avoid it being thrown out altogether. Ministers had taken drastic action as furious MPs lined up in the Commons to attack the plan to make it harder to claim Personal Independence Payments (Pip) and health-related universal credit. But even after a pledge to remove the Pip elements entirely, pending a review expected to take until next summer, almost 50 refused to back the shell of what was left. The total of 49 was higher than the 44 who had backed a 'reasoned amendment' to the bell - a piece of Commons machinery which would have killed it off completely. Labour MP Clive Efford, who voted against the Bill and co-signed an amendment that would have halted it at second reading, said the Government's late minute U-turn was not a good look to the public. The MP for Eltham and Chislehurst said: 'I've never seen a Bill in front of the House being salami sliced bit-by-bit like this, in order to get it over the line. It's definitely not the way to produce legislation. 'I mean I don't know what disabled people looking on will have made of today's process, but it didn't put the Government in a good light.' He said he was unsurprised the Government won the vote, but said the Government had been sent a message about the strength of opposition. In 12 hours of carnage at Westminster, the PM's carefully-assembled truce with rebels dramatically disintegrated. Who are the Labour rebels who voted against the welfare bill? Here is a full list of the Labour rebels who voted against the Bill at second reading: Rosena Allin-Khan (Tooting) Paula Barker (Liverpool Wavertree) Lee Barron (Corby and East Northamptonshire) Lorraine Beavers (Blackpool North and Fleetwood) Olivia Blake (Sheffield Hallam) Richard Burgon (Leeds East) Ian Byrne (Liverpool West Derby) Irene Campbell (North Ayrshire and Arran) Lizzi Collinge (Morecambe and Lunesdale) Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) Peter Dowd (Bootle) Neil Duncan-Jordan (Poole) Cat Eccles (Stourbridge) Clive Efford (Eltham and Chislehurst) Mary Kelly Foy (City of Durham) Tracy Gilbert (Edinburgh North and Leith) Mary Glindon (Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend) Chris Hinchliff (North East Hertfordshire) Imran Hussain (Bradford East) Terry Jermy (South West Norfolk) Kim Johnson (Liverpool Riverside) Ian Lavery (Blyth and Ashington) Brian Leishman (Alloa and Grangemouth) Emma Lewell (South Shields) Clive Lewis (Norwich South) Rebecca Long Bailey (Salford) Rachael Maskell (York Central) Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough and Thornaby East) Navendu Mishra (Stockport) Abtisam Mohamed (Sheffield Central) Grahame Morris (Easington) Margaret Mullane (Dagenham and Rainham) Simon Opher (Stroud) Kate Osamor (Edmonton and Winchmore Hill) Kate Osborne (Jarrow and Gateshead East) Richard Quigley (Isle of Wight West) Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Clapham and Brixton Hill) Marie Rimmer (St Helens South and Whiston) Cat Smith (Lancaster and Wyre) Euan Stainbank (Falkirk) Graham Stringer (Blackley and Middleton South) Marie Tidball (Penistone and Stocksbridge) Jon Trickett (Normanton and Hemsworth) Derek Twigg (Widnes and Halewood) Chris Webb (Blackpool South) Nadia Whittome (Nottingham East) Steve Witherden (Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr) Marsha De Cordova (Battersea) Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington) 'The Government's got a huge majority, it takes a lot to defeat. It's nonetheless a significant number of us made a stand, which I mean needed to be done.' Those voting against it included the former shadow minister for the disabled, Marsha de Cordova. Vicky Foxcroft, who quit as a whip last week because of concerns about the bill, voted for it in its weakened state. Despite being titled the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, the legislation now contains no measures relating to Pip. The respected IFS think-tank said that accounted for £2.6billion of the savings the government had hoped for by 2029-30. Curbs to the health element of Universal Credit should have eased spending by £1.7billion, but that was due to be offset by £1.8billion on raising the basic rate. Researcher Tom Waters said that left an additional cost of £100million by 2029-30. Agonisingly for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the delay almost certainly means the Office for Budget Responsibility cannot 'score' the savings in time for her Budget. As a result the black hole in the government's books is likely to be even bigger than feared. Concerns were already running high that Ms Reeves will have to hike taxes to stabilised the public finances. In 12 hours of carnage at Westminster, the PM's carefully-assembled truce with rebels dramatically disintegrated. Facing the threat of a massive revolt, Sir Keir opted make yet another major concession just 90 minutes before the vote. Ministers pledged that changes to disability handouts will not be finalised until after a review - meaning that the package as it stands will actually make the current system more expensive than before. Sir Keir - who is days away from marking the first anniversary of his election landslide - had already agreed that the benefits curbs would only apply to new claimants. There was mocking laughter in the chamber as Social Security Minister Stephen Timms was asked how much the proposals would save now, and merely replied that the government would 'set out figures in the usual way'. Despite the humiliating manoeuvres, when the vote was held 44 Labour MPs still backed the fatal amendment and others abstained - although it was comfortably defeated by 328 to 149. Shortly afterwards the Bill cleared second reading stage by 335 to 260, majority 75. It will now be scrutinised at committee. A clearly crestfallen Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall tried to put a brave face on the shambles afterwards, acknowledging there were 'lessons to be learned' but the party was '100 per cent' behind the PM. 'I think people are 100 per cent behind a Prime Minister that secured the first Labour Government in 14 years,' she said. But rebel Labour MP Brian Leishman said ministers should still withdraw the Bill despite it passing second reading. The MP for Alloa and Grangemouth had also voted in favour of the cross-party amendment that would have stopped the Bill before second reading. He said: 'Today was a prime example in how not to legislate. 'A shambolic afternoon with policy being made up off the cuff and on the notion of promises to come. 'The Government should do the honourable and decent thing and withdraw this dreadful Bill.' Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused ministers of 'utter capitulation' and said the legislation was now 'pointless'.
The Independent
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Dozens of Labour MPs facing down Starmer despite dramatic welfare U-turn
Around 50 Labour MPs are still expected to rebel against the government's welfare reforms despite Sir Keir Starmer 's £3bn U-turn. Former government whip Vicky Foxcroft, who resigned over the plans, stated that while the U-turn was positive, further concessions were still needed. Labour MPs like Clive Efford and Rachael Maskell continue to express concerns about the unknown poverty impact of the remaining £3.5 billion in savings and unanswered questions regarding the bill. The government is preparing further concessions, including a review into Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and legislation offering a 'right to try' work for benefit claimants. Domestic violence charities, including Refuge and the Women's Budget Group, warn that the welfare cuts could trap thousands of disabled women with abusers, as PIP is often their only income.
The Guardian
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Kendall steps up efforts to win over Labour welfare rebels, as Burnham tells MPs to vote against ‘unfair' bill
Update: Date: 2025-06-30T08:15:54.000Z Title: Clive Efford. Content: Good morning. Last week, on their Political Currency podcast, Ed Balls and George Osborne were talking about the Labour rebellion over the legislation to cut disability benefits – the universal credit (UC) and personal independence payment (Pip) bill – and Osborne asked for an example of an MP who would never normally rebel against the government because they were inherently mainstream and loyal, but who was opposed to this plan. Balls menioned Clive Efford, the veteran MP for Eltham and Chiselhurst. They were speaking on Thursday, before the government announced massive concessions to the bill worth £3bn a year. Those concessions have won over some Labour MPs who were going to vote against the bill tomorrow, and Keir Starmer, instead of facing certain defeat, now seems likely to win the vote – although with a much reduced majority. But many moderates are still opposed and this morning one of them was on the Today programme. It was He told the programme that he was still not in a position to support the bill because the government has not yet published the full assessment of how people will be affected, and whether (as ministers claim) the cuts won't lead to more poverty because people will get jobs instead. He said: There are still £3.5 billion-worth of savings that are required in these measures and we don't yet know the poverty impact that they will have. The original motion [the reasoned amendment to kill the bill, signed by Efford and more than 120 other Labour MPs] was asking for more time for us to understand the impact of these changes and that still applies to those people who will be adversely affected. I think there are a lot of people waiting to hear what the government is saying today who may be inclined to accept what the government has done. For me the situation hasn't changed for those people who will be adversely affected and until we know and understand the impact on them, we shouldn't be taking what I think is a leap in the dark. There are choices that the government can make here; there are other places it can go to identify the resources. What we want to see, and fully support, is measures the government is putting in the palace to assist people to move into work, the right to try, we support, but we can't guarantee the savings. When you're asking for £3.5bn regardless of the impact of those changes that can only adversely affect people who are in the benefit system. We cannot make assumptions about how much we can save in the welfare system ahead of actually bringing in those changes and seeing how they work. As Pippa Crerar and Rowena Mason report in their overnight story, Efford is far from alone; Vicky Foxcroft, who resigned as a government whip over the cuts, has not been won over by the concessions. Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, is expected to make a Commons statement today giving more details of the concessions. The Department for Work and Pensions issued some details overnight. At the weekend the continuity rebels won the backing of Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester. Burnham, who has become increasingly vocal in recent weeks in setting out an alternative, more muscular, soft left alternative to what Keir Starmer is offering, was at Glastonbury where he urged Labour MPs to vote down the bill. As Huffpost UK reports, he said: What's been announced is half a U-turn, a 50% U-turn. In my view I'd still hope MPs vote against the whole bill when it comes before parliament … [Labour MPs] face the prospect, if they accept this package, someone could come to their surgery in two years saying 'why did you vote to make me £6,000 worse off than someone exactly the same, but who was protected because they were an existing claimant'? I hope they think carefully before the vote, because the vote will create that unfairness and divide in disabled people. Here is the agenda for the day. 10.30am: The high court will deliver its judgment on a legal challenge to the government's policy on arms exports to Israel brought by human rights groups. 11.30am: Downing Street holds a lobby briefing. 2.30pm: John Healey, the defence secretary, takes questions in the Commons. After 3.30pm: Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, is expected to make a statement to MPs about the government concessions on the UC and Pip bill. If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line when comments are open (normally between 10am and 3pm at the moment), or message me on social media. I can't read all the messages BTL, but if you put 'Andrew' in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word. If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @ The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X, but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary. I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can't promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.
The Independent
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Starmer's disability benefit U-turn not enough, says rebel Labour whip
Sir Keir Starmer 's £3bn U-turn on his planned welfare cuts does not go far enough, a leading rebel who quit her frontbench job over the changes has warned. The prime minister is still facing the prospect of around 50 Labour MPs voting against his welfare reforms, with former government whip Vicky Foxcroft among those calling for fresh concessions. Ms Foxcroft dramatically quit this month in protest at the plans, saying she could not back cuts that will harm disabled people. And, in an interview with The Guardian after Sir Keir's U-turn, she said it was 'good to hear that people won't be losing their benefits who are currently on them' but said there were 'areas where I still think there's need for movement'. She has not decided whether to back the government's plans on Tuesday, and around 50 Labour MPs are still expected to vote against the welfare shakeup even after the U-turn. Labour whips have reportedly urged potential rebels to await the details of a review into personal independence payments (Pip), led by disability minister Sir Stephen Timms, before rebelling against the government. But one Labour MP said on Monday he will still oppose the measures even after Sir Keir's concessions. Eltham and Chislehurst MP Clive Efford told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'There are still £3.5 billion-worth of savings that are required in these measures and we don't yet know the poverty impact that they will have.' Mr Efford said the rebellion was initially calling for more time to understand the impact of the changes, and warned against 'taking what I think is a leap in the dark'. 'There are choices that the Government can make here; there are other places it can go to identify the resources,' he added. Meanwhile minister Jacqui Smith would not say what the consequences would be for those who do rebel on Tuesday. Baroness Smith said it is 'not constructive' to discuss potential punishments but that the government will 'keep talking, keep explaining the moves that the Government has already made to recognise some of the concerns'. She told Times Radio: 'The way in which legislation goes through Parliament is it's always the case that you discuss the principles at second reading and I hope that all MPs will recognise the need for reform, and that's what this Bill is about.' Rachael Maskell, one of the leading Labour rebels, told The Times: 'The whips have been effective at saying to colleagues they need to wait and see what the Timms review is going to achieve. 'I think personally it makes the bill even more difficult [to support], because it is a blank cheque now. I just think there are too many unanswered questions.' As work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall prepares to outline the government's concessions in parliament on Monday, Sir Keir was said to be preparing further last-minute concessions to rebels. Health secretary Wes Streeting on Sunday hinted further changes to the bill could be made. 'There is a review on Pip and we've got to listen,' he told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg. He said the government is in a better position than last week, where defeat over the welfare changes looked all but certain, but would not say he is confident the bill will pass. Ms Kendall on Sunday night said the government is reforming the welfare system so that it 'provides security for those who cannot work and the right support for those who can'. 'Too often, disabled people feel trapped—worried that if they try to work, they could lose the support they depend on,' she said. She added: 'That is why we are taking action to remove those barriers, support disabled people to live with dignity and independence, and open routes into employment for those who want to pursue it.' As well as publishing the terms of reference for the Timms review on Monday, the government will also publish legislation offering benefit claimants a 'right to try' work. In a bid to encourage claimants into work, it will allow them to try jobs without the fear of losing their payments if it does not work out. It comes after The Independent reported warnings that thousands of disabled women could find themselves trapped with abusers as a result of the government's upcoming welfare cuts. Domestic violence charity Refuge and the Women's Budget Group (WBG) have issued a stark warning over the reforms, saying that in the long term, the cuts to vital funding for daily living costs for disabled people – which will impact all new claimants – will make it difficult for those at risk to flee abusive relationships. Even with the concessions, the welfare cuts will be 'devastating for disabled women', WBG said, noting that disabled women are twice as likely to be victims of domestic abuse. For many, PIP is the only income they receive, WBG warned, so not having access to this source of individual support elevates the risk of coercive control and makes it harder to escape abusive situations.
