Latest news with #disabilityPayments
The Independent
11 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Starmer says welfare reform vote will go ahead despite mounting Labour revolt
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he will have a showdown with Labour rebels over the welfare reforms which have split his party. The Prime Minister said the Commons vote would go ahead on Tuesday as planned despite 120 Labour MPs publicly backing a move to block the legislation. Sir Keir said his party was elected 'to change that which is broken' and the welfare system 'doesn't work for anyone'. Insisting the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill would not be pulled in the face of the mounting rebellion, Sir Keir told LBC: 'There'll be a vote on Tuesday, we're going to make sure we reform the welfare system.' The legislation plans to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment, the main disability payment in England, and limit the sickness-related element of universal credit, with the aim of getting more people back into work and saving up to £5 billion a year. Existing claimants will be given a 13-week phase-out period of financial support, a move seen as a bid to head off opposition. But the fact so many Labour MPs are prepared to put their names to a 'reasoned amendment', a move which would stop the Bill in its tracks, shows how entrenched the opposition is. Defending the plans while at the Nato summit in The Hague, Sir Keir said the current system 'traps people in a position where they can't get into work'. 'In fact, it's counterproductive, it works against them getting into work,' he said. 'So we have to reform it, and that is a Labour argument, it's a progressive argument.' The rebels argue that disabled people have not been properly consulted about the plan and say further analysis is required before making any changes. Social security minister Sir Stephen Timms said he was 'looking forward to the debate' next week. He told the Commons Work and Pensions Committee the changes need to be made urgently to cut the spiralling welfare bill. Committee chairwoman Debbie Abrahams, who is one of the Labour MPs to have signed the amendment to block the legislation, asked why the provisions within the Bill had not been consulted on. Sir Stephen said: 'Essentially because of the urgency of the changes needing to be made.' He said the cost of Pip had gone up from £12 billion before the pandemic to £22 billion last year 'and that is not a sustainable trajectory'. Setting out the impact of the reforms, he told the Committee 370,000 people getting Pip under the current system would not be receiving it by the end of the decade 'That will be a number of people whose income is lower,' he said. 'Of course, I'd love it for many of those to be able to move into work, and we're going to be providing the employment support to make that ambition realistic for people in a way that it hasn't been in the past. ' Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham added his voice to the senior figures calling on the Government to reconsider. He told BBC Newsnight: 'When the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party) delivers its collective wisdom in such numbers, it is invariably right. And it is right on this. 'I would say to the Government, listen to the PLP.' His comments came after his London counterpart, Sir Sadiq Khan, said that ministers 'must urgently think again' about the plans. Labour's First Minister of Wales Baroness Eluned Morgan has also called for a rethink of the plans. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, who has already taken steps to soften the impact of the welfare Bill, has been locked in talks with backbenchers as she seeks to win over those opposed to the measures. Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch said the Tories would lend the Government votes to pass the legislation but only if Labour rules out tax rises in the autumn budget as well as reducing unemployment and lowering the welfare budget.
Bloomberg
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Starmer Vows to Hold Welfare Vote in Face of Labour Revolt
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer doubled down on plans to vote on welfare reforms next week even after the number of Labour lawmakers threatening to rebel swelled. After 106 Members of Parliament with the ruling party initially put their names to an amendment that would kill the government's bill implementing unpopular cuts to disability payments, another 15 signed up overnight, with one MP withdrawing. If all opposition parties vote against the bill, that's more than enough to defeat Starmer's administration in a vote on Tuesday.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Starmer says welfare reform vote will go ahead despite mounting Labour revolt
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted he will have a showdown with Labour rebels over the welfare reforms which have split his party. The Prime Minister said the Commons vote would go ahead on Tuesday as planned despite 120 Labour MPs publicly backing a move to block the legislation. Sir Keir said his party was elected 'to change that which is broken' and the welfare system 'doesn't work for anyone'. Insisting the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill would not be pulled in the face of the mounting rebellion, Sir Keir told LBC: 'There'll be a vote on Tuesday, we're going to make sure we reform the welfare system.' The legislation plans to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment, the main disability payment in England, and limit the sickness-related element of universal credit, with the aim of getting more people back into work and saving up to £5 billion a year. Existing claimants will be given a 13-week phase-out period of financial support, a move seen as a bid to head off opposition. But the fact so many Labour MPs are prepared to put their names to a 'reasoned amendment', a move which would stop the Bill in its tracks, shows how entrenched the opposition is. Defending the plans while at the Nato summit in The Hague, Sir Keir said the current system 'traps people in a position where they can't get into work'. 'In fact, it's counterproductive, it works against them getting into work,' he said. 'So we have to reform it, and that is a Labour argument, it's a progressive argument.' The rebels argue that disabled people have not been properly consulted about the plan and say further analysis is required before making any changes. Social security minister Sir Stephen Timms said he was 'looking forward to the debate' next week. He told the Commons Work and Pensions Committee the changes need to be made urgently to cut the spiralling welfare bill. Committee chairwoman Debbie Abrahams, who is one of the Labour MPs to have signed the amendment to block the legislation, asked why the provisions within the Bill had not been consulted on. Sir Stephen said: 'Essentially because of the urgency of the changes needing to be made.' He said the cost of Pip had gone up from £12 billion before the pandemic to £22 billion last year 'and that is not a sustainable trajectory'. Setting out the impact of the reforms, he told the Committee 370,000 people getting Pip under the current system would not be receiving it by the end of the decade 'That will be a number of people whose income is lower,' he said. 'Of course, I'd love it for many of those to be able to move into work, and we're going to be providing the employment support to make that ambition realistic for people in a way that it hasn't been in the past. ' Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham added his voice to the senior figures calling on the Government to reconsider. He told BBC Newsnight: 'When the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party) delivers its collective wisdom in such numbers, it is invariably right. And it is right on this. 'I would say to the Government, listen to the PLP.' His comments came after his London counterpart, Sir Sadiq Khan, said that ministers 'must urgently think again' about the plans. Labour's First Minister of Wales Baroness Eluned Morgan has also called for a rethink of the plans. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, who has already taken steps to soften the impact of the welfare Bill, has been locked in talks with backbenchers as she seeks to win over those opposed to the measures. Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch said the Tories would lend the Government votes to pass the legislation but only if Labour rules out tax rises in the autumn budget as well as reducing unemployment and lowering the welfare budget.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Labour benefits backlash rages as MPs warn Cabinet minister that cuts will 'devastate lives'
Labour fury over benefits cuts erupted in the Commons today as MPs warned ministers they will 'devastate lives'. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall came under fire from her own side as she took questions in the House. She faced demands to abandon 'unfair' efforts to trim the spiralling costs, with left-wingers instead insisting the government should 'tax the rich'. Keir Starmer is facing potentially his largest rebellion yet over plans to make it harder to claim disability payments and go on the long-term sick. More than 80 backbenchers have put their names to a private letter to No10 raising concerns about the plan, which will save £7billion and aims to get those who can work into jobs. They are said to be unhappy about the fact that the full impact of the cuts will not be revealed until after the vote in June. It comes after more than 40 MPs from the party's left said they would not vote for the change because of the impact on those already struggling to make ends meet. Ms Kendall tried to mollify anger in the chamber by announcing she has launched a review of personal independence payments (Pip). 'Personal independence payments is a crucial benefit that makes a contribution towards the extra costs of living with a disability,' she said. 'I know how anxious many people are when there's talk about reform, but this Government wants to ensure Pip is fair for people who need it now and into the future. However, Bradford East MP Imran Hussain said: 'Many of the 41,000 disabled people in Bradford, who rely on Pip to live with dignity and stability are rightly horrified by these proposed costs. In particular the four-point rule has the potential to devastate the lives of tens of thousands of people in Bradford overnight. 'So let us be clear, these plans would take away the vital lifeline from those with the greatest need, living in the most deprived areas, often. I cannot support any cuts that worsen inequality in places like Bradford. 'So I say to the minister, in absolute sincerity, please listen to the growing calls, in this place and out there, to scrap these unfair cuts and instead do the right thing by taxing the super rich so they can pay their fair share?' Ms Kendall replied: 'I hear very clearly what my honourable friend says, but I also want to be clear to the House – for people who can never work, we want to protect them. For disabled people who can work, we want to support them. 'The truth is that if you are a disabled person and in work, you are half as likely to be poor than if you are out of work. We want to improve people's chances and choices by supporting those who can work, to do so, and protecting those who cannot.' Fellow Labour MP Polly Billington took issue with plans to stop those aged under 22 getting access to the health element of Universal Credit. 'Can she explain to me how denying access to the heath-related element of Universal Credit will help these young people into work?' she asked. Replying for the government, employment minister Alison McGovern said: 'We have a consultation on a number of policy areas relating to the question that's been asked, but as I've said, in the end, young people need a chance and opportunity and a start, and in places like Thanet where there is significant poverty and challenges but great opportunity, I want to make sure we serve both employers and the young people who need them much better.'
