Kendall tells MPs she'll press ahead with welfare cuts, despite fierce opposition from backbenchers
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has told concerned MPs she'll press ahead with planned welfare cuts, despite fierce opposition from many backbenchers.
Responding to a letter from the Work and Pensions Committee urging her to delay the changes, Kendall wrote "we will not avoid or delay the decisive action needed to transform the system".
MPs on the committee had said there needs to be a pause in implementing the reforms while the government carry out a full impact assessment.
But Kendall insisted there will be no delay, because the bill needs final sign off from Parliament by November this year for the changes to be in effect from 2026.
The government plans to make it harder for disabled people to claim Personal Independence Payments (Pip), and to freeze universal credit incapacity benefits for existing claimants, while cutting them by 50% for new claimants.
The reforms are expected to save £5bn from the ballooning welfare budget, but critics warn the move will push vulnerable people into poverty.
ITV News revealed the details of the letter from the Work and Pensions Committee last month.
The cross-party group of MPs, led by Labour MP Debbie Abrahams, said that alongside a comprehensive impact assessment, disabled people must also be consulted before MPs are asked to vote on the reforms.
After hearing from a series of experts, the group warned of possible unintended consequences.
The letter warned: "The legislative changes might not incentivise work as the government hopes, but rather push people deeper into poverty, worsen health, especially in more deprived areas, and move people further away from the labour market."
Abrahams told ITV News that she understood the financial strain facing the government, and the need to reform welfare to support disabled people into work.
But she also cited expert evidence that cutting benefits could increase the risk of suicides.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves also confirmed on Thursday that the government is "not going to be changing" the planned cuts, despite speculation they could be softened.
The U-turn on winter fuel and reports the government could be poised to lift the two-child benefit sparked hope from backbenchers the government could be more likely to change course on welfare.
But in an interview on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Reeves insisted: "No, we're not going to be changing that. It is important that we reform the way the welfare state works, so that there is a welfare state there for people.'
But the rebellion among backbench Labour MPs doesn't seem to be abating. "I don't think they're listening to us on welfare reform at all", one MP said.
"The government just aren't taking the size of this rebellion seriously", said another.
"The free school meals and winter fuel allowance announcement and signals on the two child benefit cap are great, but not cutting it when it comes to the welfare changes."
Cat Eccles, Labour MP for Stourbridge said she was "disappointed" by Kendall's response to the letter from Debbie Abrahams, accusing her of a "tunnel-vision approach of rushing forward" to get the plans signed off by parliament by November.
"Many are rightfully concerned that ignoring this will push some of our most vulnerable in society into unnecessary poverty and hardship.
"The response from the Secretary of State appears to ignore this evidence-based advice entirely, focusing rather on a tunnel-vision approach of rushing forward to gain Royal Assent by November this year, so these reforms can be implemented for 2026/27."
She called on Kendall to "reconsider" her response, insisting: "Our welfare system must be a safety net to catch and support those who need it.
"Do not pursue reckless changes that result in the holes of that net widening, with more of our most vulnerable falling through."
There are reports up to 170 Labour MPs have raised concerns about the cuts with the government.
ITV News understands that includes some senior backbenchers who work as Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPS) to ministers, and even one junior minister.
The legislation needed to bring in the changes is due to be introduced to Parliament on Monday 16th June, with a vote expected in the week of the 30th June.
It's unclear exactly how many MPs will vote against the plans, but it's likely to be the biggest rebellion of Starmer's premiership.
The government's own impact assessment on the reforms estimates that that in 2029-30,
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an hour ago
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Minister insists no major welfare rebellion on the horizon after whip quits
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