Latest news with #welfare reform
The Independent
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Senior Labour MP tells Starmer planned welfare cuts left her ‘ashamed'
Keir Starmer has faced a grilling from a senior Labour MP, who told him the government 's plans to slash disability benefits had left her feeling 'ashamed'. Speaking as he appeared in front of a Commons Liaison Committee today (21 July), Work and Pensions Committee chair Debbie Abrahams told the prime minister the proposed bill was 'poor legislation... designed to save money for the treasury by cutting support to sick and disabled people.' ' It was so far removed from Labour values of fairness and social justice, let alone compassion and common decency,' she added. 'I have to say I felt ashamed.' Abrahams was one of a number of rebel Labour MPs who forced the government into making extensive concessions on welfare reform earlier this month.
The Independent
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Starmer clashes with senior MP over welfare reform
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer clashed with one of his senior MPs over welfare reform as she said she felt 'ashamed' of the 'poor' legislation the Government had put forward. Work and pensions committee chairwoman Debbie Abrahams said the welfare bill was 'far removed' from Labour values as she questioned the Prime Minister at the Liaison Committee. She asked Sir Keir what he would like to say to the disabled people who experienced 'fear and anxiety' before the Government made concessions on its bill. 'Well, it's very important that they feel secure and supported, and that is at the heart of what we are doing in the changes we are making to welfare and related areas,' he said. Sir Keir said he did not accept that it would take several years before labour market changes allow more disabled people to be employed following Sir Charlie Mayfield's review, due in the autumn. Mrs Abrahams asked what he would do to mitigate against a potential 50,000 newly disabled people being pushed into poverty. Sir Keir said: 'I don't accept that everything is going to take years. Some changes do take years, but not all changes take years, and we have to do work in the interim to give that support to those with disabilities.' Mrs Abrahams said she felt 'ashamed' of the 'poor' welfare legislation the Government put forward. 'This was poor legislation. It was designed to save money for the Treasury by cutting support to sick and disabled people. 'It was so far removed from Labour values of fairness and social justice, let alone compassion and common decency. 'I have to say I felt ashamed.' Sir Keir later said he thought he could 'engage Parliament more' when asked what he might do differently after his first year, but also said he wants to remind people of the 'improvements' the Government has made. After a year in office, Sir Keir was asked what he wanted the UK to look like at the end of his first term in No 10. He said: 'I want people to feel better off and there has to be a central focus on living standards. 'I want them to feel – as they will – that the health service is working much better, is there for them and their families in a way that it hasn't been for many years. 'And I want them to feel safe and secure, both in their immediate neighbourhood and as a country, both our borders and national security and defence. 'So, they're the three things that I'm focused on more than anything else.' Sir Keir's drive to improve the NHS could be derailed if resident doctors in England go ahead with strike action, which is due to begin on Friday. The Tory government faced waves of strike action in the NHS, which contributed to care backlogs. The Prime Minister has put international co-operation, including a promised one-in, one-out deal to return small boat migrants to France, at the heart of measures to control the borders. But arrivals are running at record levels for this point in a year, with the latest Home Office showing 23,534 people had crossed in small boats so far in 2025. The Liaison Committee, a panel made up of senior MPs who chair the various Commons select committees, was focusing on measures to tackle poverty. The Prime Minister, who is under pressure from within his own party to scrap the two-child benefits cap, said: 'People will not feel better-off or safe and secure if we haven't tackled poverty.' He said there were four 'limbs' to the Government's strategy: increasing incomes, decreasing costs, strengthening local support, including measures to get people into work and boosting financial resilience. 'I'm very proud of the fact that the last Labour government drove down poverty and I'm determined this Government is going to as well,' Sir Keir said.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Starmer clashes with senior MP over welfare reform
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer clashed with one of his senior MPs over welfare reform as she said she felt 'ashamed' of the 'poor' legislation the Government had put forward. Work and pensions committee chairwoman Debbie Abrahams said the welfare bill was 'far removed' from Labour values as she questioned the Prime Minister at the Liaison Committee. She asked Sir Keir what he would like to say to the disabled people who experienced 'fear and anxiety' before the Government made concessions on its bill. 'Well, it's very important that they feel secure and supported, and that is at the heart of what we are doing in the changes we are making to welfare and related areas,' he said. Sir Keir said he did not accept that it would take several years before labour market changes allow more disabled people to be employed following Sir Charlie Mayfield's review, due in the autumn. Mrs Abrahams asked what he would do to mitigate against a potential 50,000 newly disabled people being pushed into poverty. Sir Keir said: 'I don't accept that everything is going to take years. Some changes do take years, but not all changes take years, and we have to do work in the interim to give that support to those with disabilities.' Mrs Abrahams said she felt 'ashamed' of the 'poor' welfare legislation the Government put forward. 'This was poor legislation. It was designed to save money for the Treasury by cutting support to sick and disabled people. 'It was so far removed from Labour values of fairness and social justice, let alone compassion and common decency. 'I have to say I felt ashamed.' After a year in office, Sir Keir was asked what he wanted the UK to look like at the end of his first term in No 10. He said: 'I want people to feel better off and there has to be a central focus on living standards. 'I want them to feel – as they will – that the health service is working much better, is there for them and their families in a way that it hasn't been for many years. 'And I want them to feel safe and secure, both in their immediate neighbourhood and as a country, both our borders and national security and defence. 'So, they're the three things that I'm focused on more than anything else.' Sir Keir's drive to improve the NHS could be derailed if resident doctors in England go ahead with strike action, which is due to begin on Friday. The Tory government faced waves of strike action in the NHS, which contributed to care backlogs. The Prime Minister has put international co-operation, including a promised one-in, one-out deal to return small boat migrants to France, at the heart of measures to control the borders. But arrivals are running at record levels for this point in a year, with the latest Home Office showing 23,534 people had crossed in small boats so far in 2025. The Liaison Committee, a panel made up of senior MPs who chair the various Commons select committees, was focusing on measures to tackle poverty. The Prime Minister, who is under pressure from within his own party to scrap the two-child benefits cap, said: 'People will not feel better-off or safe and secure if we haven't tackled poverty.' He said there were four 'limbs' to the Government's strategy: increasing incomes, decreasing costs, strengthening local support, including measures to get people into work and boosting financial resilience. 'I'm very proud of the fact that the last Labour government drove down poverty and I'm determined this Government is going to as well,' Sir Keir said.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Constituents critical of York MP's suspension
On Wednesday, York Central MP Rachael Maskell was suspended from Labour, along with three other MPs, for repeated breaches of party discipline. It came after she was a key figure in organising a rebellion against her party's welfare reform bill, which she said would introduce "Dickensian cuts belonging to a different era and a different party". Maskell defended her decision as standing up for disabled people but the prime minister argued the MPs were "elected on a Labour manifesto" and so should back the government's agenda. But what do Maskell's York constituents think? People in Acomb have spoken to the BBC about their reaction to the news. 'Absolutely disgusting' Richard Lowe, from the Huntington Road area of York, is visiting shops on Front Street with his wife. When quizzed about Maskell's suspension, he says this is a topic the couple has discussed in depth, due to their careers in healthcare. "Rachael Maskell, for me, embodies what the Labour movement should be," the former mental health nurse says. "My thoughts are that the suspension is absolutely disgusting. "As she says, she's been a Labour member for 34 years, she's stood up for disability rights, she's a disability campaigner." As an ex-nurse, Richard says he has always had a duty of care to his patients - and that Maskell has a duty of care to her constituents. "I won't be voting Labour at the next general election," he says. "If Rachael Maskell is still an independent MP, I'll vote for her but I'm not voting Labour. "I hope she's retaken into the Labour Party very shortly. I can't see it happening myself, but there you go." 'Where are the lines?' Sat on a bench alongside their dog are Angela and her mother-in-law, Carole, who both live locally. They explain they do not share the same political views as Maskell but were on the fence about Sir Keir Starmer's decision to suspend her. "It's difficult, isn't it? Everybody's entitled to their own opinion but where are the lines?" Angela asks. "I think Labour has made a lot of terrible choices in the past year or so. "They're not doing themselves any favours." However, they both thought the welfare system needed an overhaul. "If you're a disabled person, you should be entitled to a benefit if that benefit is appropriate for your disability," Angela says. "But I think possibly there's been a bit of a trend of people claiming disability benefits and I don't think there's been enough checks into the background of what's actually needed for some people." Carole believes more "double checks" should be made to see what benefit is fair for each claimant. 'Over the top' Further down the street, Carolina Ficco, 62, also stops to chat. She believes that no matter the political party, MPs should not be punished for representing their constituents. "I think it was extremely harsh and over the top that she's been suspended," Carolina says. "Everybody is entitled to an opinion and if she's representing people, why should she be dismissed for that? "That's what politicians are supposed to be about, they're a voice for us. It's bang out of order." She says Maskell's suspension is "absolutely, totally wrong". The prime minister defended his decision to suspend Maskell, along with Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff. He said: "I am determined we will change this country for the better for millions of working people – and I'm not going to be deflected from that. "Therefore, we have to deal with people who repeatedly break the whip. "Everyone was elected as a Labour MP on a Labour manifesto of change and everybody needs to deliver as a Labour government." In a statement, the York Central MP said she wanted this Labour government to be the "very best ever" and said she had "used every opportunity" to reach into government to be an advocate for disabled people. "I am, of course, sad of the decision to suspend me for simply seeking the very best for others," Maskell said. "As someone of deep conviction and faith, I bring these values with me in all I do in representing my constituents and ensuring that I advocate for them, keep them safe and ensure that their voices are taken into the very heart of politics." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. More on this story Starmer says he had to 'deal with' rebel Labour MPs Labour suspends four MPs after welfare cuts rebellion
BBC News
19-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Constituents critical of York MP Rachel Maskell's suspension from Labour
On Wednesday, York Central MP Rachael Maskell was suspended from Labour, along with three other MPs, for repeated breaches of party came after she was a key figure in organising a rebellion against her party's welfare reform bill, which she said would introduce "Dickensian cuts belonging to a different era and a different party".Maskell defended her decision as standing up for disabled people but the prime minister argued the MPs were "elected on a Labour manifesto" and so should back the government's what do Maskell's York constituents think? People in Acomb have spoken to the BBC about their reaction to the news. 'Absolutely disgusting' Richard Lowe, from the Huntington Road area of York, is visiting shops on Front Street with his wife. When quizzed about Maskell's suspension, he says this is a topic the couple has discussed in depth, due to their careers in healthcare."Rachael Maskell, for me, embodies what the Labour movement should be," the former mental health nurse says."My thoughts are that the suspension is absolutely disgusting."As she says, she's been a Labour member for 34 years, she's stood up for disability rights, she's a disability campaigner."As an ex-nurse, Richard says he has always had a duty of care to his patients - and that Maskell has a duty of care to her constituents."I won't be voting Labour at the next general election," he says. "If Rachael Maskell is still an independent MP, I'll vote for her but I'm not voting Labour."I hope she's retaken into the Labour Party very shortly. I can't see it happening myself, but there you go." 'Where are the lines?' Sat on a bench alongside their dog are Angela and her mother-in-law, Carole, who both live locally. They explain they do not share the same political views as Maskell but were on the fence about Sir Keir Starmer's decision to suspend her. "It's difficult, isn't it? Everybody's entitled to their own opinion but where are the lines?" Angela asks."I think Labour has made a lot of terrible choices in the past year or so. "They're not doing themselves any favours."However, they both thought the welfare system needed an overhaul. "If you're a disabled person, you should be entitled to a benefit if that benefit is appropriate for your disability," Angela says."But I think possibly there's been a bit of a trend of people claiming disability benefits and I don't think there's been enough checks into the background of what's actually needed for some people."Carole believes more "double checks" should be made to see what benefit is fair for each claimant. 'Over the top' Further down the street, Carolina Ficco, 62, also stops to believes that no matter the political party, MPs should not be punished for representing their constituents. "I think it was extremely harsh and over the top that she's been suspended," Carolina says."Everybody is entitled to an opinion and if she's representing people, why should she be dismissed for that? "That's what politicians are supposed to be about, they're a voice for us. It's bang out of order."She says Maskell's suspension is "absolutely, totally wrong". The prime minister defended his decision to suspend Maskell, along with Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris said: "I am determined we will change this country for the better for millions of working people – and I'm not going to be deflected from that."Therefore, we have to deal with people who repeatedly break the whip."Everyone was elected as a Labour MP on a Labour manifesto of change and everybody needs to deliver as a Labour government."In a statement, the York Central MP said she wanted this Labour government to be the "very best ever" and said she had "used every opportunity" to reach into government to be an advocate for disabled people."I am, of course, sad of the decision to suspend me for simply seeking the very best for others," Maskell said. "As someone of deep conviction and faith, I bring these values with me in all I do in representing my constituents and ensuring that I advocate for them, keep them safe and ensure that their voices are taken into the very heart of politics." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
