Latest news with #welfarebill
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
UK's biggest benefit hotspots mapped: Shock figures reveal up to a FIFTH of adults getting handout in parts of country don't need to look for a job
One in five working-age adults in parts of Britain are claiming jobless benefits that don't require them to seek work. Daily Mail analysis today reveals some authorities – including Keir Starmer 's own – have seen rates climb 60% since Labour won power. It comes after Government figures this week revealed that 3.7million Brits were now on universal credit with 'no work requirements'. This marked a rise of one million since Sir Keir took office, sparking outrage among critics of the ballooning £140billion welfare bill. Laying bare the crisis confronting the Prime Minister, our audit found everywhere in England and Wales saw the number of adults signed off work indefinitely rise since Labour's landslide election victory. Sir Keir's Holborn and St Pancras constituency witnessed the biggest rise between July 2024-2025. There, 8,029 constituents get universal credit without any requirement to work – up 61.3% in a year. Our audit of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) statistics uncovered similarly high increases in Hackney North and Stoke Newington (59.9%) and Leeds Central and Headingley (58.4%). Croydon West saw the smallest jump, although it still leapt up 23.2%. Blackpool South, meanwhile, can today be named as Britain's benefits capital. There, 19.3% of working-age adults, aged 16 to 64, get universal credit with no requirement to seek work. Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough (18.8%) and Liverpool Walton (18.2%) rounded out the top three. The TaxPayers' Alliance today urged the PM to 'get a grip' of the welfare bill, branding it a 'national disgrace'. Elliot Keck, head of campaigns of the thinktank, added: 'The catastrophic rise in the number of Brits on benefits with no requirement to ever work is a national disgrace. 'It's fitting that the biggest surge is in the Prime Minister's backyard, given it's his humiliating government's disastrous economic policies and humiliating failure to reform the welfare system that has played such a role in driving the increase. 'Starmer should try door knocking in his constituency over the coming months if he wants to get to grips with how serious the crisis is.' The DWP claimed the rise in the number of people claiming universal credit with no requirements to work was 'to be expected' because of the push to move all 'legacy' benefits under one umbrella. It means new claimants won't be solely responsible for the increase. Instead, many are expected to have been migrated to universal credit, which makes up £52bn of the total welfare bill. The DWP's definition of no work requirements covers illness or disability and caring responsibilities. It can also include those in full-time education, over the state pension age, someone with a child aged under one, and those considered to have no prospect of work. At its most basic level, universal credit amounts to £400 a month for adults over 25. Claimants with limited capacity to work – either because of a disability or long-term illness – get twice the amount. More than 8m Brits currently get the handout, up from 3m before Covid struck. Currently, 46 per cent of all claimants are not expected to do anything to prepare or to look for work. Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves last month saw their attempt to cut Britain's ballooning benefits bill derailed by a major rebellion among Labour MPs. The PM was forced to scrap most of the planned welfare changes in the face of a huge Labour revolt. He ditched proposed restrictions to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the main disability payment in England, until after a review. Labour's package of reforms, which ministers hoped would save £5bn by 2030, was aimed at encouraging more people off sickness benefits and into work. It included tightening the eligibility criteria for UC 'top-ups' – given to claimants who have a limited capacity to work because of a disability or long-term condition. A DWP spokesperson said: 'As the majority of vulnerable customers started moving from legacy benefits onto the modernised Universal Credit system from July 2024, it is to be expected that the number of people claiming the benefit with no requirement to work will increase. 'These figures are yet more evidence of the broken welfare system we inherited that is denying people the support they need to get into work and get on at work.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Starmer sends remaining rebel Labour MPs warning
Sir Keir Starmer has sent a warning to Labour MPs who have rebelled against the government after suspending four MPs. The prime minister on 1 July after 47 Labour MPs voted against the welfare bill, which had been heavily watered down after threats of a larger rebellion. Last week, he suspended four of the backbenchers - Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Rachael Maskell - later by saying those who "repeatedly break the whip" have to be dealt with. Labour chief whip Sir Alan Campbell sent a letter, seen by Sky News, on Wednesday to the rest of the rebels, reminding them that voting against the government is breaking Labour's rules. Each rebel's letter was personalised with a reminder of what and when they had voted against the government. It was followed by: "I am writing regarding your vote in the above divisions. "As you know, it is against the standing orders of the Parliamentary Labour Party to vote contrary to the frontbench position and in so doing therefore, you have broken the whip." Labour MP Jon Trickett, one of the welfare bill rebels, said he had received the letter informing him he had voted against the welfare reforms six times in one day. "I don't repent my votes. I was elected on a pledge to stand by working-class electors and above all the poorest," he wrote on X. Sir Keir's watered down welfare bill meant the government will only save £2 billion instead of the £5bn it said the original bill would save, The Resolution Foundation estimated. He has admitted the week of the vote was "tough" and he should have engaged with backbenchers better. The PM also said he did not regret suspending the four Labour MPs, who now sit as independent MPs. He told Sky News: "I'm determined that we will change this country for the better for millions of working people. "I'm not going to be deflected from that and therefore we have to deal with people who repeatedly break the whip, because everyone was elected as a Labour MP on the manifesto of change and everybody needs to deliver as a Labour government."
Sky News
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Starmer sends remaining rebel Labour MPs warning
Sir Keir Starmer has sent a warning to Labour MPs who have rebelled against the government after suspending four MPs. The prime minister suffered his largest rebellion on 1 July after 47 Labour MPs voted against the welfare bill, which had been heavily watered down after threats of a larger rebellion. Last week, he suspended four of the backbenchers - Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Rachael Maskell - later defending his decision by saying those who "repeatedly break the whip" have to be dealt with. Labour chief whip Sir Alan Campbell sent a letter, seen by Sky News, on Wednesday to the rest of the rebels, reminding them that voting against the government is breaking Labour's rules. Each rebel's letter was personalised with a reminder of what and when they had voted against the government. It was followed by: "I am writing regarding your vote in the above divisions. "As you know, it is against the standing orders of the Parliamentary Labour Party to vote contrary to the frontbench position and in so doing therefore, you have broken the whip." What is the whipping system? Most votes in parliament are ruled by the "whipping" system, where MPs must vote in line with their party. Party whips, selected MPs and peers, rally MPs or peers to ensure they vote according to their leader's agenda. A one-line whip means MPs are "requested" but not required to attend the vote, a two-line whip signifies attendance is "necessary" and MPs must request permission to miss it, and a three-line whip means attendance is "essential". Disobeying the whip - voting against their party - can limit an MP's chances of promotion; they can be selected for unpopular duties, have the whip suspended or even be expelled from the parliamentary party (to "have the whip removed"). Some votes are "unwhipped" - a free vote - where MPs do not have to vote on party lines. MPs from all parties have been given a free vote for the Assisted Dying Bill. Labour MP Jon Trickett, one of the welfare bill rebels, said he had received the letter informing him he had voted against the welfare reforms six times in one day. "I don't repent my votes. I was elected on a pledge to stand by working-class electors and above all the poorest," he wrote on X. 15:47 Sir Keir's watered down welfare bill meant the government will only save £2 billion instead of the £5bn it said the original bill would save, The Resolution Foundation estimated. He has admitted the week of the vote was "tough" and he should have engaged with backbenchers better. The PM also said he did not regret suspending the four Labour MPs, who now sit as independent MPs. He told Sky News: "I'm determined that we will change this country for the better for millions of working people. "I'm not going to be deflected from that and therefore we have to deal with people who repeatedly break the whip, because everyone was elected as a Labour MP on the manifesto of change and everybody needs to deliver as a Labour government."
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Labour suspension doesn't mean I'm silenced, MP says
One of four rebel MPs suspended by Labour for defying party orders has said it will not silence her - but she will continue to support the government as an Maskell told the BBC she had been expelled from the party in Parliament for her role in a rebellion against disability benefit cuts, which forced Sir Keir Starmer into a U-turn on a key piece of said the welfare bill fell apart ahead of crucial Commons vote because the government did not listen to its backbenchers when the reforms were being drawn Jess Phillips said the suspended MPs should not be surprised after their "persistent" rebellions and "slagging off" of the government. On Wednesday Labour withdrew the whip from four MPs - meaning they will now sit as independents in the House of Commons - and stripped three more of their role as trade envoys - unpaid jobs handed out to backbench told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday that the chief whip had made it "very clear" to her that her "work on the disabled people reforms were the reason" for her MP for York Central said she had not been a "ringleader" of a rebellion but that she had sought to "advocate" for her constituents, including disabled people who "are very invisible in our society".Now sitting as an independent, she said she would do "all that I can to support the Labour government"."But that doesn't mean that I'm silenced," she told BBC Breakfast, adding that she did not believe the prime minister had "got it right"."If my constituents are telling me something, I want to be able to advocate," she welfare bill broke down because backbenchers weren't listened to in the early stages, she said, and this must change "because ultimately backbenchers bring vast experience with them". But Labour minister Phillips said that, from what she could see, "this is nothing to do with someone voting against a particular bill". Ministers were forced to water down their plans after 47 Labour MPs rebelled against the government's proposed cuts to welfare, but only four were suspended Philips pointed suspensions were instead for people "constantly going on the airwaves, slagging off your own government," she also dismissed the idea that MPs could not raise concerns with the government."There is absolutely no reason why people cannot speak up about the things that they care about, but we do have to work as a team," Philips told BBC Breakfast. It further undermined the prime minister's authority after a series of policy reversals, including restoring the winter fuel allowance to millions of pensioners.A senior Labour MP said the suspensions had left some backbenchers in a "state of shock".Toby Perkins told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight late on Wednesday: "There's a number of colleagues who voted against that (welfare) legislation who are wondering if they're phone is going to ring."While he said some MPs would now think "very, very carefully" before voting against the government, he said there would be others "who feel this is an overreaction." The other MPs suspended Wednesday - Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff - were all elected to the House of Commons for the first time in the MP for Poole, had organised a letter warning the government's welfare changes were "impossible to support" without a "change of direction".After his suspension, he said he remained committed to Labour's values and that it was "business as usual" for his the MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, said in a statement that he wished to remain a Labour MP and added:"I firmly believe that it is not my duty as an MP to make people poorer, especially those that have suffered because of austerity and its dire consequences."North East Hertfordshire MP Hinchliff likewise said he hoped to return to the Labour benches and would continue to "fight every day for the needs of my constituents".Three other Labour MPs - Rosena Allin Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammed Yasin - were stripped of their roles as trade envoys.
Sky News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
'We're a team': Jess Phillips defends PM's decision to suspend Labour rebels
A minister has defended Sir Keir Starmer's decision to discipline rebellious MPs, saying they would have used "stronger" language against those who are "continually causing trouble". Home Office minister Jess Phillips told Sky News' Matt Barbet that Labour MPs were elected "as a team under a banner and under a manifesto" and could "expect" to face disciplinary action if they did not vote with the government. It comes after the prime minister drew criticism for suspending four Labour MPs who voted against the government on its flagship welfare bill earlier this month, while stripping a further three of their roles as trade envoys. Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Rachael Maskell all lost the whip, meaning they are no longer part of Labour's parliamentary party and will sit as independent MPs. Labour backbenchers lined up to criticise the move last night, arguing it was a "terrible look" that made "a Reform government much more likely". But speaking to Sky News, Ms Phillips said: "We were elected as a team under a banner and under a manifesto, and we have to seek to work together, and if you are acting in a manner that is to undermine the ability of the government to deliver those things, I don't know what you expect. "Now I speak out against things I do not like, both internally and sometimes externally, all the time. "There is a manner of doing that, that is the right way to go about it. And sometimes you feel forced to rebel and vote against." Referring to a description of the rebels by an unnamed source in The Times, she said: "I didn't call it persistent knob-headery, but that's the way that it's been termed by some." She said she would have described it as "something much more sweary" because "we are a team, and we have to act as a team in order to achieve something". More than 100 MPs had initially rebelled against the plan to cut personal independent payments (PIP). Ultimately, 47 voted against the bill's third reading, after it was watered down significantly in the face of defeat. Three other MPs - who also voted against the government - have had their trade envoy roles removed. They are Rosena Allin Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammed Yasin. However, it is understood this was not the only reason behind the decision to reprimand all seven MPs, with sources citing "repeated breaches of party discipline". Ms Maskell was one of the lead rebels in the welfare revolt, and has more recently called for a wealth tax to fund the U-turn. Mr Hinchliff, the MP for North East Hertfordshire, proposed a series of amendments to the flagship planning and infrastructure bill criticising the government's approach. Mr Duncan-Jordan, the MP for Poole, led a rebellion against the cut to the winter fuel payments while Alloa and Grangemouth MP Mr Leishman has been critical of the government's position on Gaza as well as the closing of an oil refinery in his constituency. Ian Byrne, the Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby, wrote on X on Wednesday that the prime minister's actions "don't show strength" and were "damaging Labour's support and risk rolling out the red carpet for Reform". Leeds East MP Richard Burgon added that "challenging policies that harm our communities" would "make a Reform government much more likely". Ian Lavery, Labour MP for Blyth and Ashington, warned the suspensions were "a terrible look".
