Latest news with #welfareReforms
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sir Keir Starmer tries to contain rebellion among Labour MPs over welfare reforms
Sir Keir Starmer had a series of one-on-one meetings with Labour MPs on Friday to try to contain a rebellion on the government's welfare reforms. Ahead of the assisted dying vote, the met privately with some of the dozens of MPs with concerns about the proposed cuts to sickness and disability benefits. The first vote on the legislation, which the says will save £5bn a year from the welfare bill, will be held in early July. The prime minister's involvement at this stage suggests a major effort is underway to quell a potential rebellion. Cabinet ministers say they do not expect mass resignations, but one junior minister told Sky News that opposition to the reforms was "pretty strong". One frontbencher, government whip Vicky Foxcroft, , writing that she understood "the need to address the ever-increasing welfare bill" but did not believe the proposed cuts "should be part of the solution". Other junior ministers and whips have not, as yet, moved to follow her. But one government insider said: "It's difficult to tell if the mood will harden as we get closer. There's a lot of work going on." 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 . Welfare secretary Liz Kendall is also meeting individually with MPs. She said earlier this week that the welfare system is "at a crossroads" and the bill was about "compassion, opportunity and dignity". Read more from Sky News: Ministers are trying to convince MPs that a £1bn fund to support disabled people into work, and the scrapping of the Work Capability Assessment, a key demand of disability groups, make the cuts package worth voting for. They insist that 90% of current claimants of personal independence payment (PIP) will not lose the benefit. But disability groups say the cuts will have a "disastrous" effect on vulnerable people.
Sky News
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Sir Keir Starmer tries to contain rebellion among Labour MPs over welfare reforms
Sir Keir Starmer had a series of one-on-one meetings with Labour MPs on Friday to try to contain a rebellion on the government's welfare reforms. Ahead of the assisted dying vote, the prime minister met privately with some of the dozens of MPs with concerns about the proposed cuts to sickness and disability benefits. The first vote on the legislation, which the chancellor says will save £5bn a year from the welfare bill, will be held in early July. The prime minister's involvement at this stage suggests a major effort is underway to quell a potential rebellion. Cabinet ministers say they do not expect mass resignations, but one junior minister told Sky News that opposition to the reforms was "pretty strong". One frontbencher, government whip Vicky Foxcroft, resigned her post yesterday, writing that she understood "the need to address the ever-increasing welfare bill" but did not believe the proposed cuts "should be part of the solution". Other junior ministers and whips have not, as yet, moved to follow her. But one government insider said: "It's difficult to tell if the mood will harden as we get closer. There's a lot of work going on." 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". 1:34 Welfare secretary Liz Kendall is also meeting individually with MPs. She said earlier this week that the welfare system is "at a crossroads" and the bill was about "compassion, opportunity and dignity". Ministers are trying to convince MPs that a £1bn fund to support disabled people into work, and the scrapping of the Work Capability Assessment, a key demand of disability groups, make the cuts package worth voting for. They insist that 90% of current claimants of personal independence payment (PIP) will not lose the benefit. But disability groups say the cuts will have a "disastrous" effect on vulnerable people.
Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Times
A dozen ministers could quit over Starmer's disability welfare cuts
As many as a dozen members of government are prepared to resign rather than support Sir Keir Starmer's controversial welfare reforms, it has been claimed, as backbench critics accused ministers of betraying Labour values. A senior government figure told The Times that about 12 of their colleagues had privately indicated they would find it impossible to support the measures that are due to be voted on a week on Wednesday. Another leading opponent said that as many as 80 Labour MPs were 'holding firm' in opposition to the plans and believed the government would ultimately have to pull the vote. • No concessions on benefits reform, Starmer tells rebels 'If this goes through this will be our version of tuition fees,' they said. 'The optics of taking away money from people who find it difficult to go to the toilet are terrible.' The government has a working majority of 165, meaning that 83 Labour MPs would have to rebel for Starmer to lose a vote. Whips are warning potential rebels that they will be blacklisted for any future government job for as long as Starmer is prime minister — even if they simply abstain. Anyone openly opposing the plans faces a threat of having the whip suspended entirely amid growing concern in No 10 that the vote could slip away from the government. But one government source suggested that contingency plans to pull the vote altogether were being prepared, in case Starmer's team concluded that they did not have the numbers. Any move to back down would have implications for the government's finances as the £5 billion of savings from the changes have already been 'banked' by Rachel Reeves in the government's spending plans. Those prepared to walk away from their jobs are understood to be a mixture of junior ministers and parliamentary private secretaries — the MPs who act as the eyes and ears of cabinet ministers in Westminster. A few are said to be new MPs only elected last year. On Thursday Vicky Foxcroft, the MP for Lewisham North, resigned as a government whip and said she could not vote for the reforms. 'I have wrestled with whether I should resign or remain in the government and fight for change from within,' she told Starmer. 'Sadly it now seems that we are not going to get the changes I desperately wanted to see.' • Three months' grace for claimants about to lose disability benefits MPs are due to debate changes to welfare on July 1, which include a tightening of the criteria for the personal independence payment (PIP), the main disability payment in England and Wales. Ministers also want to cut the sickness-related element of universal credit, and delay access to it, so only those aged 22 and over can claim. 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'. A number of MPs spoke out in support of Foxcroft after her resignation. Jonathan Brash, the MP for Hartlepool, said he had 'utmost respect for her and her principled stand here', adding: 'She's right. Our welfare system does need change, but the cuts proposed are not the right way to do it.' Connor Naismith, the MP for Crewe & Nantwich, added: 'This must have been an incredibly difficult decision but she should be commended for standing by her principles. I agree with her that reducing the welfare bill is the right ambition, but cuts to universal credit and PIP should not be part of the solution.' Asked about the resignation on Times Radio, Lisa Nandy, the culture secretary said that it was 'up to every MP to look to their conscience and vote the way that they believe is right'. 'If you can't stick with collective responsibility in government, you have to resign,' she said. 'She's done the honourable thing. It will enable her to have a voice.'
The Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Government whip resigns as she slams Labour's welfare reforms and their impact on disabled people
A GOVERNMENT whip has resigned as she slammed Labour's welfare reforms. MP Vicky Foxcroft has stepped back from her role over the party's controversial proposals. 3 3 3 She wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Keir Starmer she could not vote "for reforms which include cuts to disabled people's finances". The former whip said: "I do not believe that cuts to personal independence payment (PIP) and the health element of Universal Credit should be part of the solution. "I have wrestled with whether I should resign or remain in the Government and fight for change from within. "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. "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." This comes as a record 3.74 million people are now claiming disability benefits - with teenagers and young adults fuelling the rise, shock new figures reveal. The number of people on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has shot up by 200,000 in a year, according to official data. It's up from 3.54 million in April last year and nearly double the 2.05 million on the books in 2019. Young claimants are also climbing fast, with 16 to 19-year-olds now making up 16.5 per cent of all PIP cases - up from 14.6 per cent in 2019. There has been a similar rise for the 30-44 age group, which accounted for 21.0 per cent in April this year, up from 18.9 per cent in April 2019. By contrast, 45-59 year-olds made up 29.9 per cent of claimants in April, down from 37.2 per cent in 2019. The figure for 60-74 year-olds has risen slightly over this period, from 29.3% to 30.8 per cent. The damning figures come as Sir Keir Starmer is standing firm in the face of a growing rebellion over his plans to tighten the eligibility for PIP. Dozens of Labour MPs have already warned the plans are 'impossible to support' – claiming the changes risk hitting hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people. The reforms will see tougher rules brought in for new and existing claimants, with ministers hoping to slash £5 billion a year from the ballooning disability benefits bill. It's understood that up to 800,000 people could lose access to PIP under the proposed changes, which are aimed at cutting back on awards linked to mental health conditions and other 'less visible' illnesses. It was reported in recent days that Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has agreed to include 'non-negotiable' protections in the Bill – including a 13-week grace period for people who no longer qualify, instead of payments stopping after just four weeks. The move is seen as an attempt to head off a Labour rebellion, but one MP dismissed it as 'not very much really'. Speaking at the weekend, the PM made clear his intention to push ahead with the reforms. Asked whether there would be further concessions, Sir Keir said: 'Well we have got to get the reforms through and I have been clear about that from start to finish. 'The system is not working, it's not working for those that need support, it's not working for taxpayers. 'Everybody agrees it needs reform, we have got to reform it and that is what we intend to do.' is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Starmer braces for biggest backbench rebellion yet as ‘horrendous' welfare cuts spark immediate backlash
Sir Keir Starmer is bracing for the biggest backbench rebellion of his leadership to date after the publication of his flagship welfare reforms sparked an immediate backlash from MPs and campaigners. The government's plans to cut disability benefits have been described as 'horrendous', 'harmful' and 'a disaster', with campaigners warning it will drive already struggling disabled people into poverty. The reforms - aimed at encouraging more people off sickness benefits and into work - are set to include the tightening of criteria for personal independence payment (Pip), which is the main disability benefit, as well as a cut to the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC) and delayed access to only those aged 22 and over. The bill will remove PIP from up to 800,000 people and the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) own impact assessment, published earlier this year, estimated the reforms would see an additional 250,000 people – including 50,000 children – pushed into relative poverty. Ministers are likely to face a Commons stand-off with backbench Labour MPs over their plans, with dozens of them last month saying the proposals were "impossible to support". In an attempt to head off some opposition, the legislation - known as the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - will give existing claimants a 13-week period of financial support. The Department for Work and Pensions said this will apply to those affected by changes to the Pip daily living component, including those who lose their eligibility to Carers Allowance and the carer's element of UC. Speaking as the bill was published on Wednesday, Labour MP Brian Leishman told The Independent: 'I will be voting against these horrendous reforms, and I think a 13-week transition period is an insult to disabled people. 'The government should speak to disability organisations to actually hear about the lived experiences of what it is like for sick and disabled people.' His comments were echoed by fellow Labour MP Nadia Whittome, who said there is 'no financial case or moral case' for the cuts. "It is clear that this Bill is not making positive reforms to welfare but cutting the income disabled people need to survive. Many people will lose thousands of pounds a year and be plunged into poverty,' she added. And Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said the bill will 'hit vulnerable families with a double whammy… hitting disabled people who can't work with these cuts the loved ones who care for them will also lose out', he warned. 'The Conservatives left an enormous welfare bill and we need to get it down, but the government's plans risk backfiring by making it harder for disabled people and their carers to work.' On Wednesday Angela Rayner, deputising for Sir Keir at prime minister's questions (PMQs), refused to rule out punishing Labour MPs who vote against the government's plans to cut disability benefits. After SNP MP Pete Wishart asked whether the prime minister intended to remove the whip from rebels, she responded: 'We're absolutely committed to ending child poverty. We've already introduced free school meals. We're already supporting families. We've given a living wage rise to over millions of workers that need it. We're getting on the job.' James Watson-O'Neill, who runs the disability charity Sense, warned that the cuts would 'push thousands further into poverty, hardship, and isolation'. 'Many disabled people already find themselves in debt because current benefits don't stretch far enough. Cutting support further at a time when the cost of living remains high is not only unjust — it is cruel,' he said. And mental health charity Mind said it is 'harmful in the extreme'. 'Struggling with your mental health is not a choice, but it is a political choice to attempt to fix the public finances by cutting the incomes of disabled people,' policy director Minesh Patel said. 'We urge MPs to oppose these measures and call on the UK government to recognise the devastating impact these cuts will have on disabled people and to rethink their plans. We can, and must, do better,' he added. But work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall said the reforms, aimed at saving around £5bn, were necessary as the 'social security system is at a crossroads'. She said: 'Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it. "This legislation represents a new social contract and marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity.' But charity the Trussell Trust said the bill published on Wednesday 'does almost nothing to ease the concerns of hundreds of the thousands of disabled people who fear that their social security support will be ripped from them'. 'In fact, this bill will push nearly half a million more people into severe hardship and towards the doors of food banks,' policy director Helen Barnard said. She added: ''It is easy to see why so many MPs have voiced concerns about the damage this bill will do. What has been published today offers little for MPs deeply concerned about the impact of these cuts on their constituents.'
