Latest news with #VickyFoxcroft
The Independent
02-08-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Ex-Labour whip admits ‘sleepless nights' over welfare cuts resignation
Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft has urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to listen more closely to his MPs, who she says reflect the worries of their constituents. Ms Foxcroft resigned as a government whip in June over concerns about proposed welfare cuts, specifically to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for disabled people. She said she could not support or whip for the proposals, which were later abandoned after a significant rebellion within the party. Ms Foxcroft described her decision to resign as difficult, causing "sleepless nights", and occurring during a challenging personal period that included the death of her father. Sir Keir's support among the public reached new depths of minus 43 after the £5bn welfare U-turn, according to polling published in July.
The Independent
02-08-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Starmer needs to listen to us, says Labour MP who quit government over welfare cuts
Sir Keir Starmer needs to listen to his own MPs, an ex-Labour frontbencher who quit her role over plans to slash benefits has said. Vicky Foxcroft, who dramatically quit as a government whip in June, said ministers need to 'properly engage' with Labour backbenchers after a massive rebellion forced the government to abandon key aspects of its benefits reforms. Ms Foxcroft said she was 'really concerned' about the negative impact the proposals – which were later abandoned – would have on disabled people. 'There was some quite bad cuts to disabled people's benefits suggested, particularly around Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and having to have four points before you would be able to access the benefit. 'And I was just really concerned about that. And, you know, at that point, I didn't feel that I could support it and didn't feel that I could go out and whip for it and get other MPs to do the same', Ms Foxcroft told GB News ' Gloria De Piero. She said she had 'sleepless nights' in the lead-up to her decision to resign, saying it was 'really difficult and I really would rather not have had to do that'. 'I was actually having a hard personal time at that time as well, with my dad passing away quite suddenly. And so, you know, I had the stress of all of that, but also I was really worried about these proposals, and I really spoke to lots of people about what my concerns were around it. 'I had some sleepless nights, it plays on your mind the whole time', the MP for Lewisham North added. Asked what the government could do differently next time, she said: 'I think it's really important to listen to MPs. MPs are out in their constituencies. They're meeting with people. You know, when they're raising concerns it is coming from what people are worried about. 'It's really important that that engagement takes place in the future. And properly takes place.' But Ms Foxcroft also insisted that the government can turn around its fortunes, despite a poor performance in the polls, with Reform UK surging ahead. 'We've got quite a few years until a general election, and we are doing a lot of good things in Parliament, the Renters' Rights Bill, the Employment Rights Bill, the Football Governance Bill, but at the moment, some of this stuff is just bills in parliament. 'What we need is people to really feel the difference actually, genuinely in their lives.' It comes amid growing concern over the direction of Sir Keir's government from voters on both the left and the right, with the prime minister's approval rating hitting an all time low earlier this month. His support among the public reached new depths of minus 43 after the £5bn welfare U-turn, according to polling published last month. The survey, first reported by The Sunday Times, also found that just a year after coming to power, seven in 10 voters think Sir Keir's government is at least as chaotic as the Tories' previous term.
The Independent
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Labour welfare rebellion: Who are the key MPs opposing Starmer's benefit cuts?
Sir Keir Starmer is braced for the biggest revolt of his leadership over benefit cuts the government's own analysis says will push 150,000 people into poverty. In a sign of the challenge facing the prime minister, those set to rebel over the welfare reforms come from across the party and include select committee chairmen, MPs from the new intake and even a recent frontbencher. The Independent looks at who the key rebels are and what they have said about the reforms. Vicky Foxcroft The Commons terrace went silent last month when Vicky Foxcroft quit as a government whip in order to vote against Sir Keir's plans. The Labour MP said she said she could not vote for reforms that 'include cuts to disabled people's finances'. Her resignation piled fresh pressure on the PM to negotiate with rebels, and she has since said concessions from Sir Keir are not enough. Ms Foxcroft has not confirmed she will vote against the plans, but said there are still 'areas where I still think there's need for movement'. Dame Meg Hillier Dame Meg Hillier has been a leading figure in the rebel camp, having put forward the initial amendment to the welfare bill which forced the government's climbdown. She is now planning to back the legislation, having said the government came to a 'good and workable compromise'. But her initial organising is a large part of the reason Sir Keir now has a £2.5bn hole in his flagship welfare bill and has served to dent the PM's authority over his party. The new amendment, put forward by Rachael Maskell, is also very similar to Dame Meg's original wrecking amendment. Rachael Maskell Rachael Maskell has been an outspoken critic of the government over several issues, including the winter fuel cuts which also saw Sir Keir U-turn. Alone, the government would not be too troubled by Ms Maskell opposing one of its bills. But Ms Maskell insists she has the backing of MPs outside the Labour left. Her new amendment has the backing of 39 Labour backbenchers, but on Tuesday morning she warned that 'so many more' of her colleagues are prepared to vote against the government. Debbie Abrahams Debbie Abrahams is another influential Labour MP, serving as chairman of the Commons welfare committee. She has accused the government of reneging on commitments it made to rebels in negotiations over the U-turn. She came out on Monday to say the government's concessions do not go far enough implored the government to think again - indicating she will either abstain or rebel on the plans. Sarah Owen Another select committee chairman, Sarah Owen, has also warned against the impact of the PM's welfare cuts. She said changes to disability benefits 'should not take place without listening to disabled voices' as she reprimanded work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall in the Commons. She is expected to either abstain on or vote against the bill on Tuesday. Louise Haigh Louise Haigh is a leading figure in the soft left wing of the Labour Party, and when she signed an amendment against the government's initial welfare plans it set alarm bells ringing in Downing Street. The former transport secretary is popular among MPs and her opposition to the prime minister provided cover for others to join the rebellion. But, in a boost for the PM ahead of the vote, Ms Haigh has indicated she will back the bill after Sir Keir's concessions. But, in a warning against the PM's approach to government so far, she called for a reset of Downing Street's engagement with the public and for a 'different approach to our economic policy and our political strategy'. Marie Tidball Raising the alarm about the impact of the measures on disabled people, and the lack of consultation of disabled people and groups, Dr Marie Tidball, herself a disabled MP, furiously attacked the government on Monday. She said: "This is not just about the process ... the principle of fairness means disabled people have a legitimate expectation to be consulted, and in order to fulfil the Equality Act section 149 public sector equality duty. "Why did the Department for Work and Pensions choose not to consult with disabled people on PIP proposals, and what work will her department do to win back the trust of disabled people?' Sadiq Khan While Labour MPs were gearing up to vote against Sir Keir in the Commons, the mayor of London used an interview with LBC to publicly encourage the rebellion. He said 'I hope MPs vote against the whole bill when it comes before Parliament". The public backing for rebel MPs from Sir Sadiq, another influential figure on Labour's soft left, will give cover to any wavering backbenchers opposed to the cuts. Sir Sadiq added that 'the reforms needed radical transformation to be fit for purpose', calling the government's preparation of the plans further into question. Andy Burnham Another Labour figure who will not be able to vote, but carries huge sway in the party nonetheless, is the Greater Manchester mayor. Not shy to butt heads with Sir Keir, Mr Burnham has called on Labour MPs to vote against the prime minister's welfare reforms. He criticised the 'half U-turn' performed by Sir Keir and warned of disabled constituents showing up at MP surgeries to ask 'why did you vote to make me £6,000 worse off than someone exactly the same?' The Manchester mayor added: 'I hope they think carefully before the vote, because the vote will create that unfairness and divide in disabled people.'
The Guardian
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Starmer's disability benefit concessions are not enough, says rebel Labour whip
The Labour whip who resigned in protest against disability benefit cuts has said Keir Starmer's concessions do not yet go far enough to win her over, as No 10 launched a fresh attempt to stem the revolt against its welfare bill. Vicky Foxcroft, who quit her frontbench role over the welfare bill a little more than a week ago, urged the government to work jointly on the changes with disabled people and to publish the review of the system before bringing in cuts. In an interview with the Guardian, Foxcroft said she had not made up her mind how to vote on Tuesday but would need assurances about further improvements. 'I would hope that actually we start to ensure we listen to disabled people and their organisations right across government. This isn't just about warm words. This is about making sure we get policy right,' she said. Starmer is facing a challenging 48 hours as No 10 battles to persuade Labour MPs to back the welfare bill now that the government has promised that current claimants of personal independence payment (Pip) will not be subject to proposed cuts. It also pledged that the health element of universal credit will rise at least in line with inflation. The Department for Work and Pensions will on Monday publish the terms of reference for a review of personal independence payment (Pip) to be undertaken by a minister, Stephen Timms, which the government says will be 'co-produced' with disabled people. It will set out £300m of employment support to be brought forward over the next three years, and publish draft regulations on the 'right to try' – allowing disabled people to try work without risking their financial support. Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, said: 'This is about delivering a fairer, more compassionate system as part of our plan for change which supports people to thrive, whatever their circumstances.' However, critics of the welfare cuts will be looking carefully at the timetable for the Timms review, as many want to see it published before the reduction in Pip due in November this year. Alternatively, they want to see the cuts delayed until after the review of the system is published. Dozens of Labour MPs appear yet to be convinced, with estimates that 50 to 60 would like to see further changes, although one of the leading original critics, Louise Haigh, the former transport secretary, said she was now likely to back the legislation. Meg Hillier, the Treasury committee chair, has also switched to say she will back the bill, but many others are waiting to see further details. In her first interview since quitting, Foxcroft 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'. The MP said one of the biggest issues was the need for co-production with disabled people and disability groups, and that should have happened 'absolutely from the start'. 'This is the problem. And this is why a lot of people have said, 'Can we delay this? Can we pause this until we ensure that we properly get it right?' Right now, we're kind of tinkering in terms of things to make it the least worst situation we can, and we need to learn lessons from that and make sure that we get these things right going forward,' she said. The former shadow minister for disabled people said she would also like to see the Pathways to Work review by Timms published before the implementation of the bill that would bring in cuts. The 12-week consultation period began on 7 April. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Foxcroft said she did not see herself as a rebel and had not wanted to resign but felt welfare bill plans would hurt the most vulnerable and she knew she could not whip or vote for something she did not believe in. She said the whips had been 'raising … for months' that Labour MPs were not happy with the disability cuts and that potentially part of the problem for Downing Street had been 'maybe ensuring that you listen to what the chief whip says'. But she said it was important that the prime minister 'appreciates he needs to be in listening mode more … and I think you've got to really respect it when somebody does come out and say that'. Starmer acknowledged in an interview with the Sunday Times that he did not get a grip on the Labour rebellion over disability benefits earlier because he was focused on foreign affairs. The prime minister acknowledged he had not got it right, and said he would have wanted to make the concessions earlier. 'I'd have liked to get to a better position with colleagues sooner than we did,' Starmer said. 'I'm putting this as context rather than an excuse.' Foxcroft is one of dozens of Labour MPs who remain worried about the changes, despite concessions made by Kendall in a midnight email on Thursday. Marie Tidball, a Labour MP who has a disability and chairs two all-party groups on autism and disability, wrote in the Guardian on Sunday that she wanted the bill to be produced along with disabled people, to promise more consultation over the summer, and to do better on enabling more people to work. 'Fundamentally, I will be looking for further reassurances that the detail will fulfil Labour's manifesto commitments to disabled people,' she said. Olivia Blake, one of the few Labour MPs with a disclosed disability, also accused the government of creating an 'unethical two-tier system' by its welfare bill concessions – and urged rebels to stand firm. The Disability Labour-affiliated group is also asking all MPs to oppose the legislation. In another development, a legal opinion commissioned by the union Equity and given by Jamie Burton KC of Doughty Street Chambers, concluded that 'the aggressive measures set out in the government's proposals will inevitably result in very serious breaches of the UK's obligations under the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities and the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights.' He added: 'They are likely to be condemned by the treaty-monitoring bodies, who have become all too familiar with very similar reforms designed to cut the welfare bill and promote work, but which ultimately result in yet further and longstanding human rights violations for disabled people.' A DWP spokesperson said: 'The secretary of state has carefully considered, and will continue to consider, all her legal obligations and is satisfied that these reforms are lawful.'
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.
