Latest news with #SundayWithLauraKuenssberg
Glasgow Times
06-07-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Ministers ‘pushed ahead too fast' on welfare reform, says Phillipson
Bridget Phillipson also said that future spending decisions had been made 'harder', when asked about the prospect of the two-child benefit cap being scrapped. Ms Phillipson told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme that she was 'not going to pretend that it hasn't been a tough or a challenging week' after ministers were forced to scrap their plans for the personal independence payment (Pip) in the face of a backbench revolt. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson appearing on the BBC 1 current affairs programme Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA) 'I'd be the first to acknowledge that, both in the pace and the nature of what we set out, we didn't get it right, but we do need to reform the system we've got,' she said. Asked about the Prime Minister's authority, the Education Secretary said: 'What the Prime Minister has said, and what I also believe, is that what we set out, we pushed ahead too fast, we didn't listen enough to people, including, I would say, including to lots of people who had concerns about the nature of that change.' Ministers have warned MPs that there will be financial consequences to the decision not to reform Pip as planned. Labour backbenchers have also been pushing for the Government to scrap the two-child benefit cap. When asked if there was now less chance of the cap being scrapped given the costs that come with Tuesday's decision, Ms Phillipson told the BBC that ministers were 'looking at every lever and we'll continue to look at every lever to lift children out of poverty'. Pushed on whether the likelihood of the cap going was now slimmer, Ms Phillipson said: 'The decisions that have been taken in the last week do make decisions, future decisions harder. 'But all of that said, we will look at this collectively in terms of all of the ways that we can lift children out of poverty.' Meanwhile, shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride had written to the budget watchdog asking whether a new updated fiscal forecast was in the works after Labour's U-turns on welfare and winter fuel. I've written to the @OBR_UK seeking urgent clarity on the multi-billion pound hole created by Labour's unfunded spending commitments. When governments lose control of the finances and transparency is sidelined, confidence in our economy is put at risk. Parliament and the public… — Mel Stride (@MelJStride) July 6, 2025 In his letter to the Office for Budget Responsibility, Sir Mel said: 'The public, Parliament and markets deserve clarity and transparency about the impact of recent events on the nation's finances and the Government's fiscal strategy.' The Conservatives will try to change the Government's welfare Bill to tighten up access to Pip and universal credit by laying a series of amendments this week. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will also pledge that the Tories are 'now the only party committed to serious welfare reform' in a speech expected on Thursday.
The Herald Scotland
06-07-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Ministers ‘pushed ahead too fast' on welfare reform, says Phillipson
Ms Phillipson told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme that she was 'not going to pretend that it hasn't been a tough or a challenging week' after ministers were forced to scrap their plans for the personal independence payment (Pip) in the face of a backbench revolt. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson appearing on the BBC 1 current affairs programme Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA) 'I'd be the first to acknowledge that, both in the pace and the nature of what we set out, we didn't get it right, but we do need to reform the system we've got,' she said. Asked about the Prime Minister's authority, the Education Secretary said: 'What the Prime Minister has said, and what I also believe, is that what we set out, we pushed ahead too fast, we didn't listen enough to people, including, I would say, including to lots of people who had concerns about the nature of that change.' Ministers have warned MPs that there will be financial consequences to the decision not to reform Pip as planned. Labour backbenchers have also been pushing for the Government to scrap the two-child benefit cap. When asked if there was now less chance of the cap being scrapped given the costs that come with Tuesday's decision, Ms Phillipson told the BBC that ministers were 'looking at every lever and we'll continue to look at every lever to lift children out of poverty'. Pushed on whether the likelihood of the cap going was now slimmer, Ms Phillipson said: 'The decisions that have been taken in the last week do make decisions, future decisions harder. 'But all of that said, we will look at this collectively in terms of all of the ways that we can lift children out of poverty.' Meanwhile, shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride had written to the budget watchdog asking whether a new updated fiscal forecast was in the works after Labour's U-turns on welfare and winter fuel. I've written to the @OBR_UK seeking urgent clarity on the multi-billion pound hole created by Labour's unfunded spending commitments. When governments lose control of the finances and transparency is sidelined, confidence in our economy is put at risk. Parliament and the public… — Mel Stride (@MelJStride) July 6, 2025 In his letter to the Office for Budget Responsibility, Sir Mel said: 'The public, Parliament and markets deserve clarity and transparency about the impact of recent events on the nation's finances and the Government's fiscal strategy.' The Conservatives will try to change the Government's welfare Bill to tighten up access to Pip and universal credit by laying a series of amendments this week. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will also pledge that the Tories are 'now the only party committed to serious welfare reform' in a speech expected on Thursday.
South Wales Argus
06-07-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Ministers ‘pushed ahead too fast' on welfare reform, says Phillipson
Bridget Phillipson also said that future spending decisions had been made 'harder', when asked about the prospect of the two-child benefit cap being scrapped. Ms Phillipson told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme that she was 'not going to pretend that it hasn't been a tough or a challenging week' after ministers were forced to scrap their plans for the personal independence payment (Pip) in the face of a backbench revolt. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson appearing on the BBC 1 current affairs programme Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA) 'I'd be the first to acknowledge that, both in the pace and the nature of what we set out, we didn't get it right, but we do need to reform the system we've got,' she said. Asked about the Prime Minister's authority, the Education Secretary said: 'What the Prime Minister has said, and what I also believe, is that what we set out, we pushed ahead too fast, we didn't listen enough to people, including, I would say, including to lots of people who had concerns about the nature of that change.' Ministers have warned MPs that there will be financial consequences to the decision not to reform Pip as planned. Labour backbenchers have also been pushing for the Government to scrap the two-child benefit cap. When asked if there was now less chance of the cap being scrapped given the costs that come with Tuesday's decision, Ms Phillipson told the BBC that ministers were 'looking at every lever and we'll continue to look at every lever to lift children out of poverty'. Pushed on whether the likelihood of the cap going was now slimmer, Ms Phillipson said: 'The decisions that have been taken in the last week do make decisions, future decisions harder. 'But all of that said, we will look at this collectively in terms of all of the ways that we can lift children out of poverty.' Meanwhile, shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride had written to the budget watchdog asking whether a new updated fiscal forecast was in the works after Labour's U-turns on welfare and winter fuel. I've written to the @OBR_UK seeking urgent clarity on the multi-billion pound hole created by Labour's unfunded spending commitments. When governments lose control of the finances and transparency is sidelined, confidence in our economy is put at risk. Parliament and the public… — Mel Stride (@MelJStride) July 6, 2025 In his letter to the Office for Budget Responsibility, Sir Mel said: 'The public, Parliament and markets deserve clarity and transparency about the impact of recent events on the nation's finances and the Government's fiscal strategy.' The Conservatives will try to change the Government's welfare Bill to tighten up access to Pip and universal credit by laying a series of amendments this week. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will also pledge that the Tories are 'now the only party committed to serious welfare reform' in a speech expected on Thursday.
Western Telegraph
06-07-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Ministers ‘pushed ahead too fast' on welfare reform, says Phillipson
Bridget Phillipson also said that future spending decisions had been made 'harder', when asked about the prospect of the two-child benefit cap being scrapped. Ms Phillipson told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme that she was 'not going to pretend that it hasn't been a tough or a challenging week' after ministers were forced to scrap their plans for the personal independence payment (Pip) in the face of a backbench revolt. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson appearing on the BBC 1 current affairs programme Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg (Jeff Overs/BBC/PA) 'I'd be the first to acknowledge that, both in the pace and the nature of what we set out, we didn't get it right, but we do need to reform the system we've got,' she said. Asked about the Prime Minister's authority, the Education Secretary said: 'What the Prime Minister has said, and what I also believe, is that what we set out, we pushed ahead too fast, we didn't listen enough to people, including, I would say, including to lots of people who had concerns about the nature of that change.' Ministers have warned MPs that there will be financial consequences to the decision not to reform Pip as planned. Labour backbenchers have also been pushing for the Government to scrap the two-child benefit cap. The decisions that have been taken in the last week do make decisions, future decisions harder. But all of that said, we will look at this collectively in terms of all of the ways that we can lift children out of poverty Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson When asked if there was now less chance of the cap being scrapped given the costs that come with Tuesday's decision, Ms Phillipson told the BBC that ministers were 'looking at every lever and we'll continue to look at every lever to lift children out of poverty'. Pushed on whether the likelihood of the cap going was now slimmer, Ms Phillipson said: 'The decisions that have been taken in the last week do make decisions, future decisions harder. 'But all of that said, we will look at this collectively in terms of all of the ways that we can lift children out of poverty.' Meanwhile, shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride had written to the budget watchdog asking whether a new updated fiscal forecast was in the works after Labour's U-turns on welfare and winter fuel. I've written to the @OBR_UK seeking urgent clarity on the multi-billion pound hole created by Labour's unfunded spending commitments. When governments lose control of the finances and transparency is sidelined, confidence in our economy is put at risk. Parliament and the public… — Mel Stride (@MelJStride) July 6, 2025 In his letter to the Office for Budget Responsibility, Sir Mel said: 'The public, Parliament and markets deserve clarity and transparency about the impact of recent events on the nation's finances and the Government's fiscal strategy.' The Conservatives will try to change the Government's welfare Bill to tighten up access to Pip and universal credit by laying a series of amendments this week. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will also pledge that the Tories are 'now the only party committed to serious welfare reform' in a speech expected on Thursday.
The Herald Scotland
15-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Starmer focused on grooming victims not ‘grandstanding', says Reeves
After initially resisting pressure to implement a full probe, the Prime Minister said he had read 'every single word' of an independent report into child sexual exploitation by Baroness Louise Casey and would accept her recommendation for the investigation. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is set to address Parliament on Monday about the findings of the review. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage described the move as a 'welcome U-turn', while Kemi Badenoch called on him to apologise for 'six wasted months'. Asked whether the Prime Minister had changed his mind about the idea of a national inquiry, the Chancellor told the Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'I think Keir Starmer, our Prime Minister, has always been really focused, as he was when he was director of public prosecutions, on the victims and not grandstanding. 'But actually doing the practical things to ensure that something like this never happens again, but also to ensure that the victims of this horrific abuse over many, many years is got to grips with and that people have answers to their questions.' Earlier this year, the Government dismissed calls for a public inquiry, saying its focus was on putting in place the outstanding recommendations already made in a seven-year national inquiry by Professor Alexis Jay. Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride criticised the Government's 'very late' decision to launch the inquiry, and claimed it had only come after pressure from the Tories. Shadow chancellor of the Exchequer Mel Stride arrives at BBC Broadcasting House (James Manning/PA) Sir Mel told BBC One's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: 'It's a very late decision – it should have happened far, far earlier. 'We've been calling for this for many, many months.' He accused Sir Keir of previously dismissing concerns from senior Tory figures. 'Kemi Badenoch, Chris Philp and others have been derided by the Prime Minister for hopping on some kind of far-right bandwagon, dog-whistle politics and the rest of it,' Sir Mel said. 'That was the wrong response. This is just another example of the Prime Minister being pressurised by us into U-turning.' The inquiry will be able to compel witnesses to give evidence, and it is understood that it will be national in scope, co-ordinating a series of targeted local investigations. Baroness Louise Casey (Kirsty O'Connor/PA) Speaking to reporters travelling with him on his visit to Canada on Saturday, the Prime Minister said: 'I have never said we should not look again at any issue. 'I have wanted to be assured that on the question of any inquiry. 'That's why I asked Louise Casey who I hugely respect to do an audit. 'Her position when she started the audit was that there was not a real need for a national inquiry over and above what was going on. 'She has looked at the material she has looked at and she has come to the view that there should be a national inquiry on the basis of what she has seen. 'I have read every single word of her report and I am going to accept her recommendation. 'That is the right thing to do on the basis of what she has put in her audit.'
