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The National
21-07-2025
- Business
- The National
'I felt ashamed': Labour MP calls out Labour's planned welfare cuts
Work and Pensions committee chair Debbie Abrahams fumed at the Prime Minister when he appeared at the Liaison Committee in Westminster on Monday, as she took him to task over the proposed cuts to Personal Independence Payments (Pip). Abrahams said that the bill – which was gutted of the most controversial element in last-ditch attempt to see off a bruising rebellion – was 'poor legislation' which had been 'designed to save money for the Treasury by cutting support to sick and disabled people'. She added: '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. "What are the values that will underpin the Government in terms of the policymaking going forward, so that we avoid the harms, the potential harms and the real harms that people are going to face, disabled people, vulnerable people are going face?' Keir Starmer (above) hit back, though conceded that he was 'not going to pretend that we got everything right in recent weeks'. He said: 'I think this is a really important Labour value. I think the fact that nearly a million people, young people, out of work, not earning or learning is a huge challenge for our country. None of us should be accepting of a system that operates like that, it is broken, it needs to be mended. READ MORE: Zarah Sultana hits out at 'racist' cartoon by 'right-wing hack' in Observer "All the evidence is that if you're on benefits and out of work at that young age, the likelihood of ever getting into good, well-paid, secure employment goes down, down, down for the rest of your life. 'One in 10 working age people out of work and three million locked out for health-related reasons. It is no wonder that almost everybody says the system is broken and it's got to be changed and I'm glad that we've started the process of change, I'm not going to pretend that we got everything right in recent weeks but we do need to reform the system and we should take that on as a Labour argument, in my view.' Labour had been planning to restrict access to Pip for new claimants so that only the most sick and disabled people would qualify. But faced with the prospect of a revolt from Labour MPs, the Government backed down and cut this from the bill, for which Abrahams eventually voted. It retained a less controversial but still criticised policy to halve the health element of Universal Credit for existing claimants and have the top-up frozen for new claimants at the lower level. Those already receiving the benefit will get a cash-terms boost from an increase to the standard allowance though people under the age of 22 will no longer be eligible. Elsewhere in the hour and a half grilling from committee chairs, Starmer said that the UK Government would respond 'in due course' to the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, which called on other states not to facilitate increasing landgrabs from unlawful settlers.
Metro
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Which three Labour MPs have been suspended and why?
The Prime Minister has suspended three MPs from the Labour Party. The move comes after a vote in Parliament over the planned – and controversial – welfare reforms earlier this month. Sir Keir's welfare bill passed by 335 votes to 260 after last-minute changes to the proposal to have it approved after uproar over the plans to cut Universal Credit and Pip payments. Despite the changes, some MPs rebelled in the final vote, and they have now been suspended. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Craig Munro breaks down Westminster chaos into easy to follow insight, walking you through what the latest policies mean to you. Sent every Wednesday. Sign up here. The Labour leader has reportedly suspended three first-year MPs – Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff. Mr Duncan-Jordan and Ms Leishman confirmed the suspension. Mr Hinchliff's suspension was first reported by The Times. The suspension means the trio have 'lost the whip' after they voted against the government's planned welfare reforms on July 1. MPs who belong to a party are expected to vote in Parliament as the party leadership desires. The MPs are now expelled from the Labour Party as disciplinary action. However, expelled politicians can continue as MPs, but they no longer have to follow the party line during voting. Mr Duncan-Jordan, an MP for Poole, said after the news emerged: 'Since being elected, I have consistently spoken up for my constituents on a range of issues, including most recently on cuts to disability benefits. 'I understood this could come at a cost, but I couldn't support making disabled people poorer. More Trending 'Although I've been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party today, I've been part of the Labour and trade union movement for 40 years and remain as committed as ever to its values.' Meanwhile, Mr Leishman, who represents Alloa and Grangemouth, said: 'I wish to remain a Labour MP and deliver the positive change many voters are craving. 'I have voted against the Government on issues because I want to effectively represent and be the voice for communities across Alloa and Grangemouth. '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.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: How to save 'broken' Britain? Readers discuss patriotic millionaires and propose plutocracy MORE: Here's what to expect from Donald Trump's second UK state visit in September MORE: Three in five Brits 'wouldn't even trust Starmer or Farage to watch their bag'
South Wales Guardian
16-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Kendall defends welfare reform plan after Government forced to ditch key parts
The Work and Pensions Secretary acknowledged it had been a 'bumpy ride' but the review into the personal independence payment (Pip) would now be able to take a proper look at the system in conjunction with disabled people. Ms Kendall insisted the reforms had not been motivated by the Treasury's desire to cut spending but were driven by a desire to end a situation where people became dependent on benefits rather than working. The Universal Credit Bill cleared the Commons after elements to restrict eligibility to Pip were scrapped, with any changes postponed until after a review led by disability minister Sir Stephen Timms. Ms Kendall said: 'I know, always, how anxious people are when they hear about proposed changes in the benefits system. 'I think we've ended up in the right place now and I think we have a really positive story going forward about how we will work with disabled people, the organisations that represent them and other experts to make sure we get a system that's fit for the future.' She denied the proposals were motivated by the almost £5 billion they were due to save. Ms Kendall said: 'I've never started with pound signs or spreadsheets. I've always started with what I believe can help people with long-term health conditions and disabled people build a better life for themselves and our reforms are based on helping those who can work to do so, instead of writing them off and then denying them any support.' She told MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee her department 'ends up picking up the pieces of the problems that are deep-rooted from many other government areas'. She said: 'Poor health, poor opportunities, low skills, not enough jobs – those are the problems we have to tackle together.' Her department was 'at the sharp end of it' and after 'admittedly, a bumpy ride over the welfare legislation' the Government has to 'start shifting resources into the things that really help create better lives for people'. 'We are spending, I believe, too much on the costs of failure and not enough on the better health, better jobs, better skills that we need,' she said. 'That is extremely difficult to shift, because people rely on those benefits, and they've built their lives around them.' But, she added: 'Benefits alone is not the solution to a better life.'
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kendall defends welfare reform plan after Government forced to ditch key parts
Liz Kendall insisted the Government's welfare reforms were in 'the right place' now after she was forced to scrap most of the planned changes in the face of a Labour revolt. The Work and Pensions Secretary acknowledged it had been a 'bumpy ride' but the review into the personal independence payment (Pip) would now be able to take a proper look at the system in conjunction with disabled people. Ms Kendall insisted the reforms had not been motivated by the Treasury's desire to cut spending but were driven by a desire to end a situation where people became dependent on benefits rather than working. The Universal Credit Bill cleared the Commons after elements to restrict eligibility to Pip were scrapped, with any changes postponed until after a review led by disability minister Sir Stephen Timms. Ms Kendall said: 'I know, always, how anxious people are when they hear about proposed changes in the benefits system. 'I think we've ended up in the right place now and I think we have a really positive story going forward about how we will work with disabled people, the organisations that represent them and other experts to make sure we get a system that's fit for the future.' She denied the proposals were motivated by the almost £5 billion they were due to save. Ms Kendall said: 'I've never started with pound signs or spreadsheets. I've always started with what I believe can help people with long-term health conditions and disabled people build a better life for themselves and our reforms are based on helping those who can work to do so, instead of writing them off and then denying them any support.' She told MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee her department 'ends up picking up the pieces of the problems that are deep-rooted from many other government areas'. She said: 'Poor health, poor opportunities, low skills, not enough jobs – those are the problems we have to tackle together.' Her department was 'at the sharp end of it' and after 'admittedly, a bumpy ride over the welfare legislation' the Government has to 'start shifting resources into the things that really help create better lives for people'. 'We are spending, I believe, too much on the costs of failure and not enough on the better health, better jobs, better skills that we need,' she said. 'That is extremely difficult to shift, because people rely on those benefits, and they've built their lives around them.' But, she added: 'Benefits alone is not the solution to a better life.'
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Kendall defends welfare reform plan after Government forced to ditch key parts
Liz Kendall insisted the Government's welfare reforms were in 'the right place' now after she was forced to scrap most of the planned changes in the face of a Labour revolt. The Work and Pensions Secretary acknowledged it had been a 'bumpy ride' but the review into the personal independence payment (Pip) would now be able to take a proper look at the system in conjunction with disabled people. Ms Kendall insisted the reforms had not been motivated by the Treasury's desire to cut spending but were driven by a desire to end a situation where people became dependent on benefits rather than working. The Universal Credit Bill cleared the Commons after elements to restrict eligibility to Pip were scrapped, with any changes postponed until after a review led by disability minister Sir Stephen Timms. Ms Kendall said: 'I know, always, how anxious people are when they hear about proposed changes in the benefits system. 'I think we've ended up in the right place now and I think we have a really positive story going forward about how we will work with disabled people, the organisations that represent them and other experts to make sure we get a system that's fit for the future.' She denied the proposals were motivated by the almost £5 billion they were due to save. Ms Kendall said: 'I've never started with pound signs or spreadsheets. I've always started with what I believe can help people with long-term health conditions and disabled people build a better life for themselves and our reforms are based on helping those who can work to do so, instead of writing them off and then denying them any support.' She told MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee her department 'ends up picking up the pieces of the problems that are deep-rooted from many other government areas'. She said: 'Poor health, poor opportunities, low skills, not enough jobs – those are the problems we have to tackle together.' Her department was 'at the sharp end of it' and after 'admittedly, a bumpy ride over the welfare legislation' the Government has to 'start shifting resources into the things that really help create better lives for people'. 'We are spending, I believe, too much on the costs of failure and not enough on the better health, better jobs, better skills that we need,' she said. 'That is extremely difficult to shift, because people rely on those benefits, and they've built their lives around them.' But, she added: 'Benefits alone is not the solution to a better life.'
