Latest news with #Rayner
The National
16 hours ago
- Health
- The National
Angela Rayner called out over 'tone deaf' tweet on social media
Angela Rayner has been called out for using an 'appalling' hashtag used alongside a post on social media where she announced that the UK Government has pledged more support for those diagnosed with a terminal illness. The Labour MP said in the post that no one battling terminal illness 'should have to face extra stress and worry over their job security'. She added: 'It's vital that employees with a terminal diagnosis are treated sensitively and with the best support – that's why I'm so proud we are backing this charter'. READ MORE: Scottish manufacturing firm announces 90 jobs face redundancy Rayner concluded the tweet with the hashtag 'DyingToWork'. No one battling terminal illness should have to face extra stress and worry over their job security. It's vital that employees with a terminal diagnosis are treated sensitively and with the best support – that's why I'm so proud we are backing this charter.#DyingToWork — Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) June 27, 2025 Since she posted the tweet on Friday, thousands of people have flooded the comments section to highlight how the post is 'tone deaf' and 'disgusting' with the use of the hashtag. However, Dying to Work is the campaign name of the movement, which aims to raise awareness of the important steps they can take to provide employees with dignity and peace of mind as they navigate a terminal diagnosis while still in work. The picture and post by Rayner is in reference to her signing the Dying to Work Charter, but has been accused of lacking clear context and that it is still in 'bad taste' with the UK Government set to announce cuts to the welfare system next week. SNP councillor Lauren Oxley first retweeted Rayner's post along with the comment: 'Whoever gave that hashtag the thumbs up needs fired, abhorrent.' However, once more context was provided by commenters to Oxley, she added that despite the hashtag making more sense it was still 'out of touch'. She wrote: 'This makes more sense, but it still feels very out of touch to post just days before her government are set to impose some of the most severe cuts to disability and sickness-related payments in over a decade.' In response to Rayner's post another person wrote: 'It would have been prudent to include more details about the charter you are supporting because otherwise, that hashtag seems very misjudged in the current climate.' While another person replied 'There is no world in which that was a good choice of hashtag.' Rayner's post comes after the UK Government said it would U-turn on some of its plans for its Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, which the initial proposal would cut back disability benefit payments by around £5 billion per year. The UK Government was forced into a partial U-turn on its welfare reform bill after more than 120 party MPs threatened to rebel against the government in a vote next week. As part of the concessions, people who currently receive Personal Independence Payments (Pip), or the health element of Universal Credit, will continue to do so. But planned cuts to these payments will still hit future claimants, with the fresh package of measures now being branded as a 'two-tier system' that will see the 'young treated worse than the old'. The new plan still keeps in place proposals to change the eligibility criteria for PIP for future claimants.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
No10 hints at benefit cut climbdown as more Labour MPs join rebellion
No10 is locked in crisis talks with angry backbenchers amid speculation a crunch vote on welfare reform might be pulled. An insider told the BBC ministers "want" to hold a vote on Tuesday in a sign of a possible climbdown. Yesterday both Keir Starmer and Deputy PM Angela Rayner insisted they would be pushing ahead with the controversial shake-up. But with 126 Labour MPs signing an amendment that could torpedo the plan, the Government could face an embarrassing defeat if it goes ahead. Last night Ms Rayner said talks were "ongoing". Asked about possible concessions, she told ITV's Peston programme: "I'm not going to get into that on your show tonight. Those discussions are ongoing around making sure that the welfare reforms that we're bringing in support people into work who need that, and we're putting a huge amount of investment into doing that, but also protecting the most vulnerable." She acknowledged that "a lot of people are very scared about these changes" but added: "I haven't changed my Labour values and we're not expecting our benches to do anything that isn't in check with them. "What we want to do is support people, and that is the crucial bit around these reforms of what Labour are trying to achieve, and we're discussing that with our MPs." In an apparent softening of words, a No10 source told the BBC: "Delivering fundamental change is not easy, and we all want to get it right, so of course we're talking to colleagues about the bill and the changes it will bring. "We want to start delivering this together on Tuesday." The source added: "The broken welfare system is failing the most vulnerable and holding too many people back. It's fair and responsible to fix it. There is broad consensus across the party on this." The latest names to add their names to the amendment, tabled by Treasury Select Committee chairwoman Dame Meg Hillier include Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee chairman Toby Perkins, and backbenchers Gareth Snell, Sarah Edwards, Irene Campbell and Pam Cox. The Government's plans restrict eligibility for personal independence payment (PIP) and limit the sickness-related element of Universal Credit. The Government hopes the changes will get more people back into work and save up to £5 billion a year. Existing claimants will be given a 13-week phase-out period of financial support, a move seen as a bid to head off opposition by aiming to soften the impact of the changes. A disgruntled Labour MP said: "I don't think you can tinker with this. They need to go back to the drawing board." According to the Government's impact assessment, the welfare reforms as a whole could push an extra 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into relative poverty. Asked whether she thought there were hundreds of thousands of people claiming disability benefits who were not disabled, Ms Rayner said: "No, what we're saying though is that the welfare system has to be able to have longevity."
North Wales Chronicle
3 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Ministers discuss welfare concessions amid looming Labour rebellion
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said talks with backbenchers were 'ongoing' amid a looming revolt over the welfare Bill, which she insisted is set to come before the Commons on Tuesday. Some 120 Labour MPs have put their names to a bid to block the legislation in its tracks, arguing that disabled people have not been properly consulted about the plans and further scrutiny is required before making any changes. Asked what concessions could be offered to convince rebels to back the Bill, Ms Rayner sought to reassure backbenchers that they would not be expected to betray the party's traditional values. 'I'm not going to get into that on your show tonight,' she said in an interview on ITV's Peston programme. 'Those discussions are ongoing around making sure that the welfare reforms that we're bringing in support people into work who need that, and we're putting a huge amount of investment into doing that, but also protecting the most vulnerable.' She acknowledged that 'a lot of people are very scared about these changes' but added: 'I haven't changed my Labour values and we're not expecting our benches to do anything that isn't in check with them. 'What we want to do is support people, and that is the crucial bit around these reforms of what Labour are trying to achieve, and we're discussing that with our MPs.' Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, who has already taken steps to soften the impact of the welfare Bill, has been locked in talks with backbenchers as she seeks to talk round those opposed to the measures. The plans restrict eligibility for personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability payment in England, and limit the sickness-related element of universal credit, with the aim of getting more people back into work and saving up to £5 billion a year. Existing claimants will be given a 13-week phase-out period of financial support, a move seen as a bid to head off opposition. But the fact so many Labour MPs are prepared to put their names to the 'reasoned amendment' calling for a change of course shows how entrenched the opposition remains. One backbencher preparing to vote against the Bill told the PA news agency: 'A lot of people have been saying they're upset about this for months. To leave it until a few days before the vote, it's not a very good way of running the country. 'It's not very grown up.' They said that minor concessions would not be enough, warning: 'I don't think you can tinker with this. They need to go back to the drawing board.' Earlier on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer defended his leadership against accusations he had misjudged the mood in his party, insisting he is 'comfortable with reading the room'. At a press conference at the Nato summit in The Hague, the Prime Minister said: 'Is it tough going? Are there plenty of people and noises off? Yes, of course, there always are, there always have been, there always will be. 'But the important thing is to focus on the change that we want to bring about.' Ms Rayner earlier told MPs in the Commons the vote will take place as planned despite the rebellion, saying: 'We will go ahead on Tuesday.' The Prime Minister had earlier indicated he was not willing to compromise, telling reporters travelling with him to the Netherlands that he would 'press ahead' with the reforms which he says are needed to fix a broken system. Later on Wednesday, armed forces minister Luke Pollard echoed the Deputy Prime Minister, telling Sky News's Politics Hub show that 'of course' the Government was in talks about possibly making changes. 'Of course we are, and I think there's a concern that's very valid and real for lots of my colleagues. They're not doing this to cause trouble or be argumentative,' he said. 'They're doing it because they have a genuine, heartfelt concern about some of the impacts. ' He said some of the reforms would be supported across the party but 'where there is concerns … those discussions will continue until the vote and beyond.' Social security minister Sir Stephen Timms said he was 'looking forward to the debate' next week. He told the Commons Work and Pensions Committee the changes need to be made urgently to cut the spiralling welfare bill. Committee chairwoman Debbie Abrahams, who is one of the Labour MPs to have signed the amendment to block the legislation, asked why the provisions within the Bill had not been consulted on. Sir Stephen said: 'Essentially because of the urgency of the changes needing to be made.' He said the cost of Pip had gone up from £12 billion before the pandemic to £22 billion last year 'and that is not a sustainable trajectory'. Setting out the impact of the reforms, he told the vommittee 370,000 people getting Pip under the current system would not be receiving it by the end of the decade. Other senior Labour figures outside Parliament, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, have also publicly expressed their opposition to the plans. Meanwhile, the Tories seem unlikely to lend the Government their support, with leader Kemi Badenoch setting out conditions for doing so including a commitment to rule out tax rises in the autumn budget and further cut the benefits bill.
Powys County Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Ministers discuss welfare concessions amid looming Labour rebellion
Ministers are discussing the prospect of further concessions to win over Labour MPs preparing to rebel over the Government's plans to cut disability benefits ahead of a crunch vote next week. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said talks with backbenchers were 'ongoing' amid a looming revolt over the welfare Bill, which she insisted is set to come before the Commons on Tuesday. Some 120 Labour MPs have put their names to a bid to block the legislation in its tracks, arguing that disabled people have not been properly consulted about the plans and further scrutiny is required before making any changes. Asked what concessions could be offered to convince rebels to back the Bill, Ms Rayner sought to reassure backbenchers that they would not be expected to betray the party's traditional values. 'I'm not going to get into that on your show tonight,' she said in an interview on ITV's Peston programme. 'Those discussions are ongoing around making sure that the welfare reforms that we're bringing in support people into work who need that, and we're putting a huge amount of investment into doing that, but also protecting the most vulnerable.' She acknowledged that 'a lot of people are very scared about these changes' but added: 'I haven't changed my Labour values and we're not expecting our benches to do anything that isn't in check with them. 'What we want to do is support people, and that is the crucial bit around these reforms of what Labour are trying to achieve, and we're discussing that with our MPs.' Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, who has already taken steps to soften the impact of the welfare Bill, has been locked in talks with backbenchers as she seeks to talk round those opposed to the measures. The plans restrict eligibility for personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability payment in England, and limit the sickness-related element of universal credit, with the aim of getting more people back into work and saving up to £5 billion a year. Existing claimants will be given a 13-week phase-out period of financial support, a move seen as a bid to head off opposition. But the fact so many Labour MPs are prepared to put their names to the 'reasoned amendment' calling for a change of course shows how entrenched the opposition remains. One backbencher preparing to vote against the Bill told the PA news agency: 'A lot of people have been saying they're upset about this for months. To leave it until a few days before the vote, it's not a very good way of running the country. 'It's not very grown up.' They said that minor concessions would not be enough, warning: 'I don't think you can tinker with this. They need to go back to the drawing board.' Earlier on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer defended his leadership against accusations he had misjudged the mood in his party, insisting he is 'comfortable with reading the room'. At a press conference at the Nato summit in The Hague, the Prime Minister said: 'Is it tough going? Are there plenty of people and noises off? Yes, of course, there always are, there always have been, there always will be. 'But the important thing is to focus on the change that we want to bring about.' Ms Rayner earlier told MPs in the Commons the vote will take place as planned despite the rebellion, saying: 'We will go ahead on Tuesday.' The Prime Minister had earlier indicated he was not willing to compromise, telling reporters travelling with him to the Netherlands that he would 'press ahead' with the reforms which he says are needed to fix a broken system. Later on Wednesday, armed forces minister Luke Pollard echoed the Deputy Prime Minister, telling Sky News's Politics Hub show that 'of course' the Government was in talks about possibly making changes. 'Of course we are, and I think there's a concern that's very valid and real for lots of my colleagues. They're not doing this to cause trouble or be argumentative,' he said. 'They're doing it because they have a genuine, heartfelt concern about some of the impacts. ' He said some of the reforms would be supported across the party but 'where there is concerns … those discussions will continue until the vote and beyond.' Social security minister Sir Stephen Timms said he was 'looking forward to the debate' next week. He told the Commons Work and Pensions Committee the changes need to be made urgently to cut the spiralling welfare bill. Committee chairwoman Debbie Abrahams, who is one of the Labour MPs to have signed the amendment to block the legislation, asked why the provisions within the Bill had not been consulted on. Sir Stephen said: 'Essentially because of the urgency of the changes needing to be made.' He said the cost of Pip had gone up from £12 billion before the pandemic to £22 billion last year 'and that is not a sustainable trajectory'. Setting out the impact of the reforms, he told the vommittee 370,000 people getting Pip under the current system would not be receiving it by the end of the decade. Other senior Labour figures outside Parliament, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, have also publicly expressed their opposition to the plans.
South Wales Guardian
3 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Ministers discuss welfare concessions amid looming Labour rebellion
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said talks with backbenchers were 'ongoing' amid a looming revolt over the welfare Bill, which she insisted is set to come before the Commons on Tuesday. Some 120 Labour MPs have put their names to a bid to block the legislation in its tracks, arguing that disabled people have not been properly consulted about the plans and further scrutiny is required before making any changes. Asked what concessions could be offered to convince rebels to back the Bill, Ms Rayner sought to reassure backbenchers that they would not be expected to betray the party's traditional values. 'I'm not going to get into that on your show tonight,' she said in an interview on ITV's Peston programme. 'Those discussions are ongoing around making sure that the welfare reforms that we're bringing in support people into work who need that, and we're putting a huge amount of investment into doing that, but also protecting the most vulnerable.' She acknowledged that 'a lot of people are very scared about these changes' but added: 'I haven't changed my Labour values and we're not expecting our benches to do anything that isn't in check with them. 'What we want to do is support people, and that is the crucial bit around these reforms of what Labour are trying to achieve, and we're discussing that with our MPs.' Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, who has already taken steps to soften the impact of the welfare Bill, has been locked in talks with backbenchers as she seeks to talk round those opposed to the measures. The plans restrict eligibility for personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability payment in England, and limit the sickness-related element of universal credit, with the aim of getting more people back into work and saving up to £5 billion a year. Existing claimants will be given a 13-week phase-out period of financial support, a move seen as a bid to head off opposition. But the fact so many Labour MPs are prepared to put their names to the 'reasoned amendment' calling for a change of course shows how entrenched the opposition remains. One backbencher preparing to vote against the Bill told the PA news agency: 'A lot of people have been saying they're upset about this for months. To leave it until a few days before the vote, it's not a very good way of running the country. 'It's not very grown up.' They said that minor concessions would not be enough, warning: 'I don't think you can tinker with this. They need to go back to the drawing board.' Earlier on Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer defended his leadership against accusations he had misjudged the mood in his party, insisting he is 'comfortable with reading the room'. At a press conference at the Nato summit in The Hague, the Prime Minister said: 'Is it tough going? Are there plenty of people and noises off? Yes, of course, there always are, there always have been, there always will be. 'But the important thing is to focus on the change that we want to bring about.' Ms Rayner earlier told MPs in the Commons the vote will take place as planned despite the rebellion, saying: 'We will go ahead on Tuesday.' The Prime Minister had earlier indicated he was not willing to compromise, telling reporters travelling with him to the Netherlands that he would 'press ahead' with the reforms which he says are needed to fix a broken system. Later on Wednesday, armed forces minister Luke Pollard echoed the Deputy Prime Minister, telling Sky News's Politics Hub show that 'of course' the Government was in talks about possibly making changes. 'Of course we are, and I think there's a concern that's very valid and real for lots of my colleagues. They're not doing this to cause trouble or be argumentative,' he said. 'They're doing it because they have a genuine, heartfelt concern about some of the impacts. ' He said some of the reforms would be supported across the party but 'where there is concerns … those discussions will continue until the vote and beyond.' Social security minister Sir Stephen Timms said he was 'looking forward to the debate' next week. He told the Commons Work and Pensions Committee the changes need to be made urgently to cut the spiralling welfare bill. Committee chairwoman Debbie Abrahams, who is one of the Labour MPs to have signed the amendment to block the legislation, asked why the provisions within the Bill had not been consulted on. Sir Stephen said: 'Essentially because of the urgency of the changes needing to be made.' He said the cost of Pip had gone up from £12 billion before the pandemic to £22 billion last year 'and that is not a sustainable trajectory'. Setting out the impact of the reforms, he told the vommittee 370,000 people getting Pip under the current system would not be receiving it by the end of the decade. Other senior Labour figures outside Parliament, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan, have also publicly expressed their opposition to the plans. Meanwhile, the Tories seem unlikely to lend the Government their support, with leader Kemi Badenoch setting out conditions for doing so including a commitment to rule out tax rises in the autumn budget and further cut the benefits bill.
