Latest news with #Lewisham
The Independent
36 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Minister insists no major welfare rebellion on the horizon after whip quits
A Cabinet minister has insisted a major rebellion over welfare is not on the cards after a Government whip resigned over proposed cuts to disability benefits. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said Vicky Foxcroft was the only frontbencher who had spoken to her about resigning. MPs must 'look to their conscience' when deciding how to vote, Ms Nandy said, but added that the Government believes the Commons will back the reforms. Lewisham North MP Ms Foxcroft said she understood 'the need to address the ever-increasing welfare bill' but did not believe the proposed cuts 'should be part of the solution', in her resignation letter to the Prime Minister. Sir Keir Starmer has faced a backlash from some Labour MPs over proposals to reform the welfare system, which are expected to save up to £5 billion a year. Ms Nandy said a 'handful' of backbench MPs had expressed concerns to her about the 'detail' of the Bill, but added she was confident the Government had listened and the package of reforms was 'absolutely right'. 'It would be wrong to say that when you bring forward big reforms, there aren't concerns and there aren't dissenting voices, of course there are. But Vicky is the only frontbencher that I've had a conversation with about resigning,' she told BBC Breakfast. She told Times Radio that Ms Foxcroft 'did the honourable thing' by standing down. 'If you can't stick with collective responsibility in Government, you have to resign. 'She's done the honourable thing. It will enable her to have a voice, and she – as the former shadow disabilities minister – is very keen to use it. 'But I think most Labour MPs, including her, agree with the principle of the reforms that we're making.' She added: 'It's now up to every MP, as it always is at moments of major reform, to look to their conscience and vote the way that they believe is right. 'And we believe this package of reforms are right and will carry the confidence of the House.' Ms Foxcroft is the second Labour frontbencher to go in protest over policy issues after Anneliese Dodds quit as development minister over cuts to the aid budget. Rebel Labour MPs welcomed Ms Foxcroft's decision, with Hartlepool's Jonathan Brash saying he had the 'utmost respect' for her 'principled stand' and Crewe and Nantwich's Connor Naismith saying it 'must have been an incredibly difficult decision but she should be commended for standing by her principles'. She said she had wrestled with whether to resign or remain in the Government and 'fight from within'. 'Sadly it… now seems that we are not going to get the changes I desperately wanted to see. 'I therefore tender my resignation as I know I will not be able to do the job that is required of me and whip – or indeed vote – for reforms which include cuts to disabled people's finances.' Legislation introduced into Parliament on Wednesday includes a tightening of the criteria for the main disability payment in England, the personal independence payment (Pip). Ministers also want to cut the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC), and delay access to it so only those aged 22 and over can claim it. The package of reforms is aimed at encouraging more people off sickness benefits and into work, but dozens of Labour rebels said last month that the proposals were 'impossible to support'. Pip is aimed at helping with extra living costs if someone has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of their condition. Data published on Tuesday showed 3.7 million people in England and Wales claimed Pip, up from 2.05 million in 2019, with teenagers and young adults making up a growing proportion of claimants. Around 800,000 people are set to lose out on the benefit under the Government's proposals, according to an impact assessment published alongside Wednesday's legislation. The assessment also confirmed a previous estimate that 250,000 more people, including 50,000 children, are likely to fall into relative poverty after housing costs in 2029/30, although the Government repeated that this does not take into account the potentially positive impact of £1 billion annual funding by then for measures to support people into work. Responding to Ms Foxcroft's resignation, a Government spokesperson said: 'This Labour Government was elected to deliver change. The broken welfare system we inherited is failing the sick and most vulnerable and holding too many young people back. It is fair and responsible to fix it. 'Our principled reforms will ensure those who can work should, that those who want to work are properly supported, and that those with most severe disabilities and health conditions are protected.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Minister insists no major welfare rebellion on the horizon after whip quits
A Cabinet minister has insisted a major rebellion over welfare is not on the cards after a Government whip resigned over proposed cuts to disability benefits. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said Vicky Foxcroft was the only frontbencher who had spoken to her about resigning. MPs must 'look to their conscience' when deciding how to vote, Ms Nandy said, but added that the Government believes the Commons will back the reforms. Lewisham North MP Ms Foxcroft said she understood 'the need to address the ever-increasing welfare bill' but did not believe the proposed cuts 'should be part of the solution', in her resignation letter to the Prime Minister. Sir Keir Starmer has faced a backlash from some Labour MPs over proposals to reform the welfare system, which are expected to save up to £5 billion a year. Ms Nandy said a 'handful' of backbench MPs had expressed concerns to her about the 'detail' of the Bill, but added she was confident the Government had listened and the package of reforms was 'absolutely right'. 'It would be wrong to say that when you bring forward big reforms, there aren't concerns and there aren't dissenting voices, of course there are. But Vicky is the only frontbencher that I've had a conversation with about resigning,' she told BBC Breakfast. She told Times Radio that Ms Foxcroft 'did the honourable thing' by standing down. 'If you can't stick with collective responsibility in Government, you have to resign. 'She's done the honourable thing. It will enable her to have a voice, and she – as the former shadow disabilities minister – is very keen to use it. 'But I think most Labour MPs, including her, agree with the principle of the reforms that we're making.' She added: 'It's now up to every MP, as it always is at moments of major reform, to look to their conscience and vote the way that they believe is right. 'And we believe this package of reforms are right and will carry the confidence of the House.' Ms Foxcroft is the second Labour frontbencher to go in protest over policy issues after Anneliese Dodds quit as development minister over cuts to the aid budget. Rebel Labour MPs welcomed Ms Foxcroft's decision, with Hartlepool's Jonathan Brash saying he had the 'utmost respect' for her 'principled stand' and Crewe and Nantwich's Connor Naismith saying it 'must have been an incredibly difficult decision but she should be commended for standing by her principles'. She said she had wrestled with whether to resign or remain in the Government and 'fight from within'. 'Sadly it… now seems that we are not going to get the changes I desperately wanted to see. 'I therefore tender my resignation as I know I will not be able to do the job that is required of me and whip – or indeed vote – for reforms which include cuts to disabled people's finances.' Legislation introduced into Parliament on Wednesday includes a tightening of the criteria for the main disability payment in England, the personal independence payment (Pip). Ministers also want to cut the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC), and delay access to it so only those aged 22 and over can claim it. The package of reforms is aimed at encouraging more people off sickness benefits and into work, but dozens of Labour rebels said last month that the proposals were 'impossible to support'. Pip is aimed at helping with extra living costs if someone has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of their condition. Data published on Tuesday showed 3.7 million people in England and Wales claimed Pip, up from 2.05 million in 2019, with teenagers and young adults making up a growing proportion of claimants. Around 800,000 people are set to lose out on the benefit under the Government's proposals, according to an impact assessment published alongside Wednesday's legislation. The assessment also confirmed a previous estimate that 250,000 more people, including 50,000 children, are likely to fall into relative poverty after housing costs in 2029/30, although the Government repeated that this does not take into account the potentially positive impact of £1 billion annual funding by then for measures to support people into work. Responding to Ms Foxcroft's resignation, a Government spokesperson said: 'This Labour Government was elected to deliver change. The broken welfare system we inherited is failing the sick and most vulnerable and holding too many young people back. It is fair and responsible to fix it. 'Our principled reforms will ensure those who can work should, that those who want to work are properly supported, and that those with most severe disabilities and health conditions are protected.'
The Guardian
13 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Labour MP resigns as government whip in protest at benefit cuts
The Labour MP, Vicky Foxcroft, has resigned as a government whip in protest at the government's welfare plans, saying she will not be able to vote for the cuts to disability payments. The government is braced for a major rebellion on the welfare bill, which includes significant changes to personal independence payments for disabled people. Foxcroft, the MP for Lewisham North who was shadow disability minister before the election, said she was unable to do her job as a whip because she disagreed with the changes and did not believe that cuts were part of the solution to rising inactivity. In a letter to the prime minister, Foxcroft said that the benefits system was 'in desperate need of reform' but her experience as shadow disability minister had showed her that the struggles of disabled people and organisations were 'even tougher than I had imagined'. She said: 'The last Conservative government left many in poverty and living life in fear of losing their support, not getting access to the right medical care, not having suitable housing and not being able to participate fully in society. The real and ongoing distress was palpable. 'I absolutely understand the need to address the ever-increasing welfare bill in these difficult economic times, but I have always believed this could and should be done by supporting more disabled people into work. 'I do not believe that cuts to personal independence payment (Pip) and the health element of universal credit should be part of the solution.' Foxcroft, who is among a number of frontbenchers uncomfortable with the proposed changes, said she had wrestled with whether to fight the changes from within the government. 'Sadly it is now seems that we are not going to get the changes I desperately wanted to see. I therefore tender my resignation as I know I will not be able to do the job that is required of me and whip – or indeed vote – for reforms which include cuts to disabled people's finances,' she said. 'I am incredibly proud to have served as part of the first Labour government in 14 years and hope that ministers will revisit these reforms so that I can continue to support the government in delivering for the people of this country.'
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft resigns over party's welfare proposals
Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft has resigned as a Government whip over the party's welfare proposals. She said in a letter to the Prime Minister she could not vote 'for reforms which include cuts to disabled people's finances'. The Lewisham North MP wrote on X: 'With a heavy heart, I have written to the Prime Minister to tender my resignation as a whip. 'Whilst I will continue to support the government in delivering the change the country so desperately needs, I cannot vote in favour of the proposed reforms to disability benefits.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
We asked AI what Lewisham will look like in 2050 – the results are bizarre
We asked AI chatbot ChatGPT what Lewisham will look like in 2050 and the images it generated were unexpectedly striking (and bizarre). ChatGPT has been making waves in everything from education to design since 2022. Using the platform's image generation, we asked what key locations across Lewisham might look like in the year 2050. The results show a borough that's recognisably local but layered with futuristic touches that range from the plausible to the slightly surreal. Here's what ChatGPT showed us: Lewisham High Street appears transformed into a clean, glass-heavy boulevard, where trees line walkways and autonomous vehicles glide past floating signage. Lewisham High Street (Image: ChatGPT/AI) Monorails loop above street level, and towering, green-roofed buildings replace today's more familiar facades. Over at Beckenham Place Park, the AI imagines a serene balance between nature and technology. Beckenham Place Park (Image: ChatGPT/AI) People picnic beside a futuristic lake, while above them, sleek transport links hover silently across the sky. The park's wide lawns and mature trees remain intact, suggesting that even in 2050, green space is still a priority. In Catford, the famous fibreglass cat hasn't gone anywhere - it's just had an upgrade. Catford (Image: ChatGPT/AI) One image features an oversized robotic version of the feline perched above a shopping centre that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi film. Street-level life continues, though, with busy markets and a walkable centre. Deptford Market is reimagined with a high-tech backdrop - glass towers and smart infrastructure - while the traditional stalls and sense of community remain. Deptford Market (Image: ChatGPT/AI) There's a sense of continuity here, even among the high-tech trappings. Finally, New Cross Station gets a futuristic revamp, with a sprawling transport interchange, energy-efficient buildings, and skybridges connecting pedestrians to rooftop gardens. But it's still clearly New Cross - just with better lighting and far more glass. New Cross Station (Image: ChatGPT/AI) The AI's vision is speculative - and at times optimistic - but it highlights how urban development, climate goals, and transport infrastructure could evolve in the coming decades. Whether or not we'll see flying trains or giant cats with glowing eyes is anyone's guess. But if these images show anything, it's that Lewisham's future could be every bit as dynamic and diverse as its present.
