Latest news with #SirStephenTimms
Telegraph
11 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
The calamitous day that leaves Starmer's reputation in tatters
There was a hush in the Commons as Sir Stephen Timms stood up at the despatch box to make what proved to be a monumental announcement. The minister – one of the most mild-mannered in the House – interrupted a Labour MP speaking in the long and uncomfortable debate on welfare cuts, to reveal the Government had 'heard' MPs' concerns and would drop yet another part of its Bill. The screeching about-turn came just hours after Liz Kendall, the embattled Work and Pensions Secretary, had vowed that no more concessions would be made. And yet the concession announced by Sir Stephen – that the cuts to personal independence payments (PIP) would be delayed – effectively rendered the whole Bill pointless. As leading rebel Rachael Maskell crowed: 'There is hardly a Bill left to oppose.' All seem agreed that the calamitous day in Parliament leaves Sir Keir Starmer's reputation for competence in tatters. On Tuesday morning, just hours before the vote, he held a back-slapping Cabinet meeting to celebrate Labour's first year in office, a milestone it will reach on Saturday. He used the event to castigate ministers briefing against Morgan McSweeney, his chief of staff. The day's events also raise huge questions about whether Ms Kendall will be able to stay in post, after having presided over such a disastrous piece of legislation. Opening the debate at 1.45pm, she was defiant, saying: 'Unlike the previous administration, this government must not and will not duck the big challenges facing this country. Because the people we are in politics to serve deserve so much better than this.' She had no intention of giving way, just days after she had been forced to make major concessions to her Bill after 127 backbenchers signed a motion against it and one government whip resigned. These changes included exempting existing PIP claimants from any cuts to their benefits. It had been thought that that had staved off defeat, but over the weekend, it emerged that rebels still had concerns. On Monday, MPs were angered once more when the Government admitted that even its watered-down reforms would push 150,000 into poverty. The rebellion was back on. In a sign that things were not going to go so well, Ms Kendall was jeered by MPs when she made her opening statement. Throughout the debate, the drumbeat of opposition grew, with Labour backbencher after Labour backbencher lining up to criticise the Bill or calling for it to be withdrawn altogether. Soon, there were rumours of a climbdown, as ministers accepted the inevitable lesson from the way the debate was going. Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, was meeting rebels in her Commons offices to thrash out a deal. Rebels wanted the government to pull the entire legislation, but they were prepared to accept changes so large that they effectively meant a neutering of the Bill. Ms Rayner offered to delay the introduction of tightened eligibility for PIPs from the planned date of November 2026 until after a review of the future of the whole benefits system – raising the prospect that the change may never come into effect. It was just after 4.20pm that the minister broke into a Labour MP's speech to make his dramatic announcement. 'Others across the House during this debate have raised concerns that the changes to PIP are coming ahead of the conclusions of the review of the assessment that I will be leading,' he said. 'We've heard those concerns and that is why I can announce that we are going to remove the Clause Five from the Bill at committee, that we will move straight to the wider review, sometimes referred to as the Timms Review and only make changes to PIP eligibility activity and descriptors following that review.' A prominent Labour rebel said: 'Ministers on the front bench just lowered their heads as backbenchers looked over.' The debate then continued for another two and a half hours, with little sign that even this concession had appeased backbenchers. The Conservatives were jubilant, glad to see that the chaotic votes seen under the premierships of Baroness May and Liz Truss were now happening to Labour. Simon Hoare, a former Tory minister, said the confusion felt in the House of Commons 'is now being felt and expressed in the country at large'. He told the Commons: 'I have never seen a Bill butchered and filleted by their own sponsoring ministers in such a cack-handed way. 'Nobody can understand the purpose of this Bill now. In the interest of fairness, simplicity and natural justice, is it not best to withdraw it, redraft it and start again?' Labour's Ian Lavery said: 'This is crazy, man! This is outrageous, man! This Bill isn't fit for purpose. If you have a look, it's 16 pages. I can ask the Right Honourable gentleman to rip the ones out that's changed. There would only be two pages left. Withdraw the Bill!' Sir Stephen, winding up, described the debate with understatement as having been a 'passionate and eventful'. Sitting next to him was Ms Kendall, dressed in dark garb as if for her own funeral. Outside the chamber, Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, was seen looking even more miserable than usual. The U-turn overturns her plans to find savings worth billions. Westminster insiders pointed out that the Work and Pensions Secretary had been a special adviser to Harriet Harman in 1998, when she was forced to resign from the same job. Then known as social security secretary, she took unpopular proposals to slash single-parent benefits through the Commons despite a rebellion of 47 Labour MPs – two short of the rebellion suffered by Sir Keir. Soon after, Ms Harman was sacked by Sir Tony Blair. Critics were left wondering whether Ms Kendall may now be on the verge of suffering the same fate.
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
First Minister's Questions from the Senedd: 1 July 2025
Update: Date: 14:34 BST Title: Hwyl fawr Content: Eluned Morgan's thirty-third session as first minister comes to a close. Eluned Morgan Update: Date: 14:19 BST Title: Personal Independence Payment Content: Labour MS Jenny Rathbone express concern that the review of PIP to be conducted by the Labour UK government's Work and Pensions Minister Sir Stephen Timms and involving disabled people, won't report until the autumn of next year, meaning it would be too late to have an influence on the eligibility criteria for PIP beginning that November. She says "the Equality and Social Justice Committee has just had a reply from Sir Stephen Timms about the disability benefits changes that are going to be voted on today in Westminster. I'm pleased to see that he is now committed to co-produce the review with disabled people as well as experts. I am concerned, however, that this review, which I am sure he will undertake diligently, is not going to be ready to be applied to the changes in legislation before the legislation is voted on. But at least he does point out that PIP is devolved in Scotland, and I think there is a very strong case for accelerating the devolution of welfare benefits in Wales too, so that we can ensure that whatever money is available is exercised in the most humane and supportive manner." Her question, however, is on age limits on employment support for "people with learning difficulties [who] are maybe taking longer to get to work-readiness and need additional support". The first minister replies, "we amended the Jobs Growth Wales programme to enable 19-year-olds to join the programme. It was previously only available to 18-year-olds. The thing is, Jobs Growth Wales is a procured programme, so it is not possible in the middle of a procured programme to change the programme halfway through. So that will continue until the end of the contract in 2027, but what we will do, of course, is to feed that concern into the successor employability programmes, which are being considered at the moment." Jenny Rathbone Update: Date: 14:11 BST Title: Stricter eligibility criteria for new claimants 'as myopic as it is mean' Content: Plaid Cymru MS Delyth Jewell says "MPs will shortly vote on welfare cuts that will wreak untold misery in Wales... The decision to treat future claimants as the collateral needed to pass a vote is as myopic as it is mean. Why should people be treated differently because of what year they happen to have become disabled? What kind of fairness is that?" Stricter eligibility criteria for getting personal independence payment (PIP), the main disability benefit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, will now only apply to those claiming after November 2026, rather than existing claimants. Eluned Morgan replies "I do think that we have to recognise, first of all, that the welfare system that we have inherited from the Conservatives is in need of reform. It's a system that is not helping people to get back into work. I do think that we have to got to try and keep that in the forefront of our minds at all times. What are we trying to achieve here? What we are trying to achieve is an opportunity for people to get back into work. So, it shouldn't be something that is driven by punishment. It should be something that is driven by a situation where we are standing with them and giving them support, as we do when it comes to youth unemployment." Delyth Jewell Update: Date: 14:04 BST Title: Waiting times in north Wales hospitals Content: Gareth Davies Health secretary Jeremy Miles is "breathing down the necks" of management at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to bring down patient waiting times in north Wales hospitals, says the first minister. She was responding to Conservative Gareth Davies, who said "Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board still has the most pathways waiting more than two years for treatment. The most recent figures show that Betsi has the worst percentage of people seen in accident and emergency within the four-hour target. In May, 15,662 patients were seen in A&E departments across north Wales, with 6,822 seen under the target of four hours, and that's just 43 per cent. This is down 46.8 per cent in February and 45 per cent in January." The first minister added "there has been a 32 per cent reduction in the number of pathways waiting for over two years in Betsi, so I do think we need to give credit where it's due. Is it enough? Absolutely not". Update: Date: 13:57 BST Title: Benefits cuts 'push thousands into poverty' Content: With Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer braced for the biggest rebellion of his premiership in a vote on planned benefits cuts, Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth says his party's four MPs will vote against the bill in its entirety. Sir Keir and his ministers have been scrambling to convince MPs to back watered-down welfare changes in a key vote on Tuesday evening. In a bid to win over rebel Labour MPs, the prime minister softened the package by limiting disability benefit cuts to only new claimants, among other tweaks. Rhun ap Iorwerth says "on today's vote specifically—and again, I emphasise that this has a direct impact on devolved issues and on devolved budgets—I'm interested in why the first minister said last-minute changes to the reforms to try to avoid a catastrophic vote—not because of a letter of hers, of course—were welcome concessions, even though they still push thousands into poverty and create a two-tier system. "So, as she has welcomed them, can we assume that the first minister has carried out a new impact assessment, in which case, can she share the results of that assessment with us, or if she hasn't, why is her support so unqualified when she has no idea of the harms the reforms will cause?" Eluned Morgan replies "I am really pleased that there are 200,000 people in Wales now who previously were really concerned about whether they would be able to continue receiving PIP [Personal Independence Payment]. There's been a change of heart, and they are no longer at threat of losing that PIP, and we've been consistent in terms of our approach in relation to that." Referring to grassroots members of the Labour party, Rhun ap Iorwerth says "I applaud them for voting at the weekend in favour of two motions—one on fair funding for Wales, the other on devolution of the Crown Estate—agreeing with longstanding positions taken by Plaid Cymru. And with the Crown Estate figures published today showing £1.1 billion in profit last year, including £132 million going to the King, we shouldn't be surprised that people are getting angry." The first minister replies that Plaid Cymru is not "unique when it comes to asking for fair funding". Rhun ap Iorwerth Update: Date: 13:50 BST Title: 'Hateful and vile chants' Content: Darren Millar, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, refers to the Palestine Action group which "recently targeted RAF Brize Norton, causing millions of pounds worth of damage to British defence equipment, and it's also been responsible for attacks on companies here in Wales". He says he supports Home Secretary Yvette Cooper's decision to proscribe Palestine Action under anti-terror law and he asks whether the first minister also agrees. Eluned Morgan replies "I'd like to say a few words about Palestine, because I do think the situation there is extremely grave. I had the honour of meeting the UN representative last week, and many of you did as well. We are hearing absolute harrowing stories about what is going on in that area, and I think it's incumbent on all of us to draw attention to the dire situation and the extreme approach that is being taken there, in particular when it comes to preventing food from getting to the people in those areas. Look, I condemn attacks by any organisation. I think that is wrong, and that would include the Palestine people's organisation." Darren Millar refers to Bob Vylan's "hateful and vile chants" at the Glastonbury festival that went out on the BBC, during which the band's singer led the crowd in chants of "death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces]". He invites the first minister to join him in "condemning such hateful and vile chants" and "condemn the BBC for broadcasting them". Eluned Morgan replies "it is not right to stir up hatred against any community, and frankly it's illegal, which is why there is a police inquiry going on at the moment, and that is absolutely the right thing to do." Finally, Darren Millar says "next month, Wales is going to host the Green Man festival, a festival that has benefited from significant financial support from the Welsh government over a number of years, including the purchase of the land near Crickhowell for over £4 million to support the festival's projects. This year, the organisers have chosen to invite the rap group Kneecap, which has openly incited violence and expressed antisemitic rhetoric. My party has called on the festival to deplatform the band from Green Man, and so have Gill and Pete Brisley from Bridgend. Gill and Pete's daughter and granddaughters were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists on 7 October 2023, and their son-in-law, Eli Sharabi, was held hostage by Hamas for 16 months until he was released, in an emaciated condition, in February of this year." He asks "do you support the Brisley family in calling for Kneecap to be deplatformed, and will you confirm today that no more taxpayers' money will ever be given to this festival unless they withdraw Kneecap's invitation to perform?" The first minister replies, "the Welsh government does support new artists in relation to the Green Man festival, but we are not responsible for paying for the other artists that attend the Green Man festival. It is obviously up to the festival organisers to determine who they invite. I do think that they need to think very carefully about who they invite and the potential problems that may arise if they are to use that as a platform to divide people and to talk hatred." Darren Millar Update: Date: 13:42 BST Title: 'Pause and listen' on NHS Dental services Content: Paul Davies Conservative Paul Davies raises concerns about the provision of dental services in Preseli Pembrokeshire and says the British Dental Association has described the proposed NHS dental reforms as "a leap in the dark that could destroy the service". He asks "will the Welsh government pause and listen to the warnings of those in the profession and meaningfully engage with the British Dental Association to find a way forward before it's too late?" Eluned Morgan replies "we have spent 13 months working with the British Dental Association to design the new contract. They were fully involved in developing those proposals, and they are out for consultation. It's been the biggest response to a consultation, I think, ever in the history of devolution. So, obviously, we will take time now to go through those responses and make sure that we respond accordingly. What is important, of course, is to recognise that, as in all negotiations, there are aspects on which the parties agree and aspects where there are more contentious issues." The biggest change would see all patients over 18 placed onto a central waiting list, called the Dental Access Portal (DAP). They would then be allocated a surgery, which could be anywhere within the health board area. If they need treatment, they would remain with that surgery until it is complete and beyond, if they needed close monitoring. If or when teeth are healthy, patients would be returned to the central portal and would be recalled for a check-up in 18 to 24 months wherever there is space. Children would be assessed under the plans but stay at the first surgery they are allocated. Some charges for patients would also change - with check-ups going up from £20 to £24.75 but a single crown going down from £260 to £239.15. Update: Date: 13:36 BST Title: Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain 'on very shaky ground' Content: Eluned Morgan Llywydd Elin Jones conducts a ballot to determine the names of members who may table questions to the first minister. Independent MS Rhys ab Owen seeks an update on the Welsh government's annual grant to Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain, external, the London Welsh school, following reports of financial uncertainty. First Minister Eluned Morgan replies that the "Welsh Labour government has stepped in to guarantee funding for the full academic year to Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain. For over a decade, more than £1.2 million has been invested to keep Cymraeg alive in London, and support will continue to help the community to learn, speak and celebrate our language." However she warns, "I do think it's also important to highlight the fact that the number of pupils has been very low since the pandemic. Next year, there will only be 10 pupils, and, of course, we do have a responsibility as a government to ensure that we provide the best possible value for money in terms of public money. So, whilst we do, of course, appreciate the great efforts that they have made—certainly with Miri Mawr, and the work that they do with the nursery school, and so on, and we've helped with Dydd Miwsig Cymru, and there are other things that we do to assist—I do think we have to be realistic, and the fact is, when you only have 10 pupils, you do have to ask questions on sustainability." She adds, "I do think we have to be honest, the school is on very shaky ground from September". At the moment the school receives a grant of £90,000 a year from the Welsh government. Ysgol Gymraeg Llundain Update: Date: 13:29 BST Title: Pro-Palestinian protest Content: Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators have gathered at the Senedd to call for the end of Israeli action in Gaza. A long red banner was held around much of the parliamentary estate, and chants of "free Palestine" were heard. Some politicians joined the demonstration, including Labour Member of the Senedd John Griffiths and Plaid Cymru's leader Rhun ap Iorwerth. During the event, some people chanted "from the river to the sea", referring to the land between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean. Critics of the chant argue it implicitly calls for the destruction of Israel. The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and other activists have contested this, saying the slogan refers to "the right of all Palestinians to freedom, equality and justice". Update: Date: 12:59 BST Title: Croeso Content: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Eluned Morgan's thirty-third session of First Minister's Questions. The Siambr (Senedd chamber) has closed for renovations until March 2026, as work is underway on altering it to accommodate the 96 Members who will be chosen in the next Senedd election in May 2026. So the 60 MSs are meeting in Siambr Hywel, the original debating chamber that housed the then National Assembly for Wales from 1999 to 2006. The meeting is held in a hybrid format, with some members in Siambr Hywel and others joining by video-conference. You can click on the play button above to watch the proceedings from 1.30pm. Tŷ Hywel, next to the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay, is rented by the Senedd Commission
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Keir Starmer in full retreat as he waters down welfare cuts AGAIN in order to avoid his biggest ever rebellion as Labour MPs rail at 'Dickensian' benefits curbs
Keir Starmer made yet another major concession to his already threadbare plan to cut disability benefits tonight in an attempt to water down a major Labour rebellion - just 90 minutes before the vote. The Prime Minister has already humiliatingly weakened the package of welfare reforms by agreeing to only apply them to new claimants, as dozens of his MPs vowed to defy him this evening. Although the scale of the rebellion is now far smaller than the 120-plus who originally signed a fatal amendment, it is still on track to be the biggest of Sir Keir's premiership so far. In a sign of the panic gripping No10, Social Security Minister Sir Stephen Timms confirmed in the Commons that the remaining changes, due to be introduced in November, would now not come in before a review was completed in the autumn of 2026. The volte face ahead of a vote at 7pm caused bemusement in the Commons, with confused MPs questioning if there was anything left for them to vote on. It came after Labour MPs spoke in their droves against the 'Dickensian' plan to make it harder to claim Personal Independence Payment (Pip) or Universal Credit health elements. Concessions had already reduced the planned savings from £5billion to £2.5billion by the end of the decade - taking a wrecking ball to Rachel Reeves' hopes of balancing the books without more tax rises. Cabinet sources told MailOnline they expected the result would be 'tight' - even though no government has lost a piece of legislation at second reading stage since 1986. No10 has refused to rule out further concessions. In a sign of the panic gripping No10, Social Security Minister Sir Stephen Timms confirmed in the Commons that the remaining changes, due to be introduced in November, would now not come in before a review was completed in the autumn of 2026. Intervening during the second reading debate, Sir Stephen said MPs had 'raised concerns that the changes to Pip are coming ahead of the conclusions of the review of the assessment that I will be leading'. 'We have heard those concerns, and that is why I can announce that ... we will move straight to the wider review, sometimes referred to as the Timms review, and only make changes to Pip eligibility activities and descriptors following that review. 'The Government is committed to concluding the review by the autumn of next year.' Tory leader Kemi Badenoch had earlier accused ministers of being 'driven not by principle but by panic', joking that Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall 'looks as if she is being tortured'. Sir Keir gathered Cabinet to take stock of the grim situation this morning, telling his top team the reforms are 'designed to help those who can work into employment and ensure dignity and security for those who can't work'. A truce that had been painstakingly thrashed out last week dramatically disintegrated yesterday amid claims that Sir Keir had reneged on the terms. The Tories have confirmed they will vote against the Bill, despite supporting a welfare spending crackdown. That opens the door to Sir Keir's massive majority of 166 being overturned - although most believe the government will scrape through. Some 39 Labour MPs signed a new fatal amendment overnight, with more than 80 needing to switch sides in theory to inflict a defeat. The Speaker has selected the amendment tabled by Rachael Maskell, meaning that it will go to a vote at 7pm. Ms Maskell has warned 'many more' MPs have told her they still plan to oppose the Government's plans. Speaking in the chamber she said: 'These Dickensian cuts belong to a different era and a different party. They are far from what this Labour Party is for: a party to protect the poor, as is my purpose, for I am my brother's keeper. 'These are my constituents, my neighbours, my community, my responsibility, and I cannot cross by on the other side.' Ms Maskell said she had spoken to a constituent who had felt suicidal discussing the cuts, and told colleagues she felt a duty to protect the disabled. She said: 'I will fight for the purpose of politics, for their livelihoods and their lives. It is a matter of conscience, deep conscience for me to ensure that these precious people are treated for once with dignity.' She added: 'So at this 11th hour I plead, withdraw. We will be met with relief and praise. Let's consult, co-produce, incorporate the Mayfield Review findings and accommodate the Timms Review first.' One rebel ringleader, Debbie Abrahams, said a promised review of the system had not been honoured by the government. The Work and Pensions Committee chair told the House there was 'clear confusion' on the review and whether it would be 'co-produced with disabled people and their organisations'. Referring to the proposed requirement for new Pip claimants to score at least four points on at least one daily living activity, Ms Abrahams said: 'And therein lies the problem – most of us are aware that the dog's breakfast of this Bill is being driven by the need to get four points to the OBR (Office for Budget Responsibility) to enable it to be scored for the budget.' Former frontbencher Rebecca Long-Bailey said the government must 'pull back from the brink'. 'The sad thing is, is that there are alternatives: introduce higher taxes on extreme wealth; end the stealth subsidies for banks; tax gambling fairly and properly. The list of alternatives is endless,' she said. Ms Kendall said welfare reform 'is never easy, perhaps especially for Labour governments'. The Work and Pensions Secretary told the Commons: 'Reviewing the assessment as a whole, let me just say, it is a major undertaking that will take time to get right, especially if we co-produce it properly. 'It will be for those involved in the review to determine the precise (timetable), but we are absolutely committed to moving quickly and completing the review by next autumn. 'And I want to assure the House, any changes following the Timms review will be implemented as soon as is practicably possible via primary or secondary legislation. 'And once we have implemented changes from the review, any existing Pip (personal independence payment) claimant can ask for re-assessment. 'Welfare reform, let's be honest, is never easy, perhaps especially for Labour governments. Our social security system directly touches the lives of millions of people and it is something we all care deeply about. 'We have listened to the concerns that have been raised to help us get these changes right. The Bill protects people already claiming Pip, it protects in real terms the incomes of people already receiving the UC (universal credit) health top-up from that benefit and their standard allowance, and it protects those with severe lifelong conditions who will never work, and those near the end of their life as we promised we would.' DWP estimates that the latest proposals would still push 150,000 extra people into poverty by 2030 angered many, even though it was lower than the 250,000 envisaged in the original plans. She said she had no fear in voting down the Bill and felt a 'moral duty' to 'speak up for' disabled people. 'Yes, I support getting disabled people into work where they've been discriminated and dismissed, of course that's important, but when those people can't work or need longer to prepare for work, it is vital we don't remove their lifeline,' she said. 'Or else they'll disappear further and further into the margins.' But Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News: 'I'd ask (colleagues) to support the Government on that basis, because clearly what we've got here is something which is better than the existing system. Asked whether MPs would lose the whip for voting against the Government, he said he was 'not aware of anything like that' but 'those issues are for the chief whip'. Rachel Reeves defended the government's record on helping people in poverty earlier today. 'The Government is committed to ensuring that there are fewer sick and disabled people in poverty by helping them into work and getting them off NHS waiting lists,' she said. 'That is why at the spring statement, we announced the largest investment in employment support in at least a generation. The Government has already taken action to tackle poverty including with the fair repayment rate, which lowers the cap on deductions in universal credit. 'And we've increased the national living wage by 6.7%. 'Beyond this, we're investing to reduce poverty by expanding free school meals, investing in a £1 billion settlement for crisis support, and we'll be setting out our child poverty strategy in the autumn. We've invested £29 billion in reducing NHS waiting lists, and since taking office, there are 385,000 more people in work.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Labour MPs press Liz Kendall on rollout of benefit changes
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has faced repeated questions from Labour MPs over the rollout of changes to the benefit system, as the government attempts to defuse a backbench part of a U-turn last week, the government said stricter eligibility criteria for getting the personal independence payment (Pip) would only apply to those claiming after November 2026, rather than existing also promised a review into the assessment process in partnership with disability organisations, due to be completed in autumn 2026. But many Labour backbenchers questioned the rationale for making changes to the qualifying criteria before the review was finished. Kendall said any recommendations from the review - to be led by disability minister Sir Stephen Timms - would be implemented "as soon as possible" following its added that the Timms review would not be "driven by an objective of making savings" adding: "It's about making sure that this really vital benefit is fair and fit for the future."Pip assessments involve questions about tasks like preparing and eating food, washing and getting dressed. Each is scored from zero - for no difficulty, to 12 - for the most the government's proposed system, new claimants would have to score at least four points for one activity to qualify for the benefit, instead of qualifying for support across a broad range of tasks. Debbie Abrahams, chair of the work and pensions committee, said: "If this is being truly co-produced with disabled people in their organisations, the review should determine both the new process, the new points and the new descriptors, and we shouldn't predetermine it at four points."Dame Meg Hillier - chair of the Treasury Committee - asked Kendall for "the rationale for settling on those four points in one category prior to the Timms review".Another Labour MP, Sarah Owens, asked: "What is the logic of making changes to future claimants before producing the Timms review?" The government was forced into a climbdown after more than 120 Labour MPs - including Dame Meg and Abrahams - threatened to block the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments had hoped concessions made last week had reassured MPs, although around 50 Labour MPs are still expected to oppose the bill. Speaking in Parliament, Kendall said she had "listened carefully" and was "making positive changes as a result".Conservative shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said the government had produced a "rushed and chaotic compromise" which would save £2.5bn from a £100bn bill. Liberal Democrat spokesman Steve Darling also said the legislation was rushed and warned it would lead to "unintended consequences".
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Welfare concessions to be set out ahead of crunch vote
The Government is to set out the concessions it has made to its welfare reforms in the hope that the climbdown on cuts will be enough to shore up support in a crunch vote. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the Bill aims to deliver a 'fairer, more compassionate system' ahead of the legislation's second reading on Tuesday. The Government will amend the Bill at the Commons committee stage to put the changes in place. The original plans restricted eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip) and cut the health-related element of universal credit. The changes to Pip will now only apply to new claims from November 2026. Plans to cut the health-related element of universal credit have also been rowed back, with all existing recipients to have their incomes protected in real terms. Details of a review of the Pip assessment, to be led by disabilities minister Sir Stephen Timms and 'co-produced' with disabled people, will also be published. Draft regulations for the 'right to try', to enshrine in law the right for people receiving health and disability benefits to try work without fear of reassessment, will also be laid in Parliament. The Work and Pensions Secretary said: 'We must build a welfare system that provides security for those who cannot work and the right support for those who can. Too often, disabled people feel trapped, worried that if they try to work, they could lose the support they depend on. 'That is why we are taking action to remove those barriers, support disabled people to live with dignity and independence, and open routes into employment for those who want to pursue it. 'This is about delivering a fairer, more compassionate system as part of our Plan for Change which supports people to thrive, whatever their circumstances.' Some £300 million in employment support will also be brought forward over the next three years. Those with severe conditions who are unlikely to recover – about 200,000 people – will not be called for a reassessment of universal credit. From next year to 2030, all those who already receive the health element of universal credit and new claimants with severe conditions and 12 months or less to live will see an annual rise to their combined standard and limited capacity for work allowance at least in line with inflation. Ms Kendall had confirmed concessions to the plans after 126 Labour backbenchers signed an amendment that would have halted the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill at its first Commons hurdle. That is now expected to be withdrawn after the move appeased some rebellious MPs, but others are considering backing a similar amendment to be tabled on Monday. Health Secretary Wes Streeting told Sky News the changes 'have put us in a much better position' and give 'peace of mind' to those receiving Pip, but he did not rule out further concessions. Labour MP Rachael Maskell said she would sign the new amendment aiming to stop the Bill, saying it was not clear how the promised concessions would be brought in. 'There's no confidence… we're being asked to sign a blank check even with these changes,' she told the PA news agency. Vicky Foxcroft, who quit as a Labour whip over the reforms, told The Guardian there were 'areas where I still think there's need for movement' and that she had not decided how to vote. Olivia Blake, a Labour MP with a disclosed disability, told the paper the changes could create 'an unethical two-tier system that treats two people with the exact same injury or illness differently'. The Liberal Democrats plan to vote against and have called for the Government to speed up access-to-work decisions to help people enter the workforce. Deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: 'Liberal Democrats simply cannot support any measures that make things harder for unpaid carers, disabled people who rely on support with daily tasks in order to stay employed, and those whose disabilities mean that they will never be able to work. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called the concessions 'the worst of all worlds'. Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately would not say on Sunday how the Tories would vote and that the party would wait to see what the Secretary of State sets out.
