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South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Politics
- South Wales Argus
Changes to benefits could affect thousands in Caerphilly
Chris Evans, MP for Caerphilly and Hefin David, MS for Caerphilly, have voiced 'deep concerns' about changes to Personal Independence Payments, Universal Credit rates, and the scrapping of the Work Capability Assessment. In a joint letter to Liz Kendall MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, the pair warned that up to 13,000 people in Caerphilly could lose out under UK Government proposals. Mr Evans said: "Our welfare system needs reform, that much is clear. "However, the proposals before us could have a serious and detrimental impact on my constituents, particularly those with disabilities, which could drive many into further poverty. "I am calling on the government to urgently reconsider these proposals and address the concerns that have been raised by so many people. "At the very least, they must fully consult with those likely to be affected and protect them from slipping into poverty." Mr Evans has signed a parliamentary amendment to block the proposed changes from becoming law in their current form. Dr David said he was concerned that the unintended consequences of the benefits reforms will work against the Welsh Government's commitment to ensure disabled people are supported into employment.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Senior member of Anas Sarwar's shadow cabinet 'opposed' to Labour welfare cuts bill
EXCLUSIVE: A senior party figure said Duncan-Glancy is angry about the cuts being proposed. A member of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar 's shadow cabinet is opposed to Keir Starmer's welfare cuts for disabled people. A senior party figure said Pam Duncan-Glancy is against a Labour Government bill campaigners warn will cost the vulnerable hundreds of pounds a year. The insider said the education spokeswoman, a permanent wheelchair user, is angry about the plans. They said: 'Pam has brought her lived experience to bear in leading the internal campaign against disability cuts. She has consistently made the strongest case against the cuts and has the ear of senior government figures.' The Prime Ministe r is under mounting pressure over a welfare bill that would cut around £5bn from disability and sickness benefits. A number of the benefit changes are UK-wide and the cuts are forecast to plunge 50,0000 children into poverty. But the bill could be dumped after over 100 Labour MPs, twelve from Scotland, backed an amendment that would torpedo the whole package. A party insider said Duncan-Glancy's opposition showed the Labour shadow cabinet at Holyrood is split over the plans. When approached, Scottish Labour released a statement in Duncan-Glancy's name. She said: 'Everybody agrees reform is needed to address the structural challenges in the system, but those reforms need to be fair. 'Labour's plans include positives, for example increasing the Universal Credit standard allowance, scrapping the Work Capability Assessment, introducing a 'right to try', and investing £1 billion in employability support.'Disabled people are raising their concerns and it's right that people work to ensure these reforms deliver on Labour's ambitions to fix a broken system and support disabled people.' Sarwar has so far walked a careful line between backing the principles of welfare reform while encouraging Starmer to listen to concerns. In a Holyrood Sources podcast, Sarwar said of the bill: 'I support the principle of reform.' 'We do have to look at the structural challenges that exist in our welfare system.' He also said there are ' many positives ' in the bill, such as £1bn for back to work schemes. Asked if he agreed with the rebels, Sarwar said: 'Conversations are ongoing, as you would expect. People are legitimately raising their concerns, having those conversations.' He added: 'We have to support the principle of reform. What those reforms look like have to be balanced and have to be fair.' His comments are milder than the criticisms of mayors Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham. Meanwhile, Starmer is in talks with Labour rebels over concessions to save the welfare reform package. Sir Keir told MPs there was 'consensus" across the House on the "urgent need for reform' of the 'broken' welfare system. 'I know colleagues across the House are eager to start fixing that, and so am I, and that all colleagues want to get this right, and so do I,' he said. 'We want to see reform implemented with Labour values of fairness. That conversation will continue in the coming days, so we can begin making change together on Tuesday.' SNP MSP George Adam said: "The UK Labour government is slashing vital support for disabled people and under Anas Sarwar's leadership, Scottish Labour is rowing in behind them. "So far, Anas Sarwar has faithfully backed his Westminster bosses - but a growing number of his own colleagues have finally seen the irreparable damage these cuts will do. "While Scottish Labour won't stand up for Scotland, the SNP has called for the cuts to be scrapped. "The people of Scotland deserve far better than continued Westminster austerity. Only with the full powers of independence can Scotland escape Westminster's austerity obsession." A key element of the welfare package is freezing the rate of the health element of Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance payments until 2030. In a briefing to parliamentarians, the Trussell charity estimated that there are nearly 300,000 people receiving these payments in Scotland: "All would stand to be affected by the freeze which by 2029/30 amounts to [a] real terms cut of £500 per year.' The Scottish Labour MP sceptics are Richard Baker, Scott Arthur, Euan Stainbank, Brian Leishman, Lilian Jones, Tracy Gilbert and Elaine Stewart. Kirsteen Sullivan, Patricia Ferguson, Martin Rhodes, Maureen Burke and Irene Campbell are also opposed.
Sky News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
What is Sir Keir Starmer's welfare bill and why is he facing a major Labour rebellion over it?
Why you can trust Sky News Sir Keir Starmer faces the biggest rebellion of his premiership next week when his controversial welfare reforms are voted on in the Commons. After initially securing support for the welfare bill - in principle, at least - a mutiny is building within the parliamentary party at the scale and potential impact of billions of pounds in cuts. More than 100 Labour MPs have now signed a "reasoned amendment" to oppose the government's proposals - which, if passed, would effectively kill the legislation. In the amendment, the MPs, who represent a broad spectrum of opinion in the party, call for a delay to assess the impact of cuts to personal independence payments (PIP), one of the main types of benefit for those living with a long-term health condition or disability. They also cite the government's own figures showing that 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, could be pushed into poverty as a result. Sky News takes a look at what the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill proposes and why the prime minister has a major rebellion on his hands. What are the welfare changes? PIP The biggest shakeup to the system involved changes to PIP - money given to people - some of whom are in work - who have extra care needs or mobility needs as a result of a disability. People who claim it are awarded points depending on their ability to do certain activities, such as washing and preparing food, and this influences how much they will receive. There are two components to PIP: the "living" component for everyday activities and the "mobility" component for getting around. From November 2026, people will need to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity to qualify for the daily living element of PIP - instead of fewer points spread across a range of tasks. The standard rate for the living component for PIP starts at £73.90 a week for the living component, while the higher rate is set at £110.40 per week. 8:08 Currently, the standard rate is given if people score between eight and 11 points overall, while the enhanced rate applies from 12 points. The changes to PIP will not affect the mobility component. It is estimated that the government's package would lead to 800,000 fewer people being eligible for PIP. Universal Credit Universal Credit, which is also claimed by those who are in and out of work, is also undergoing changes. The government intends to freeze the health element of Universal Credit, claimed by more than two million people, at £97 a week during this parliament, and cut the rate to £50 for new claimants. There will also be a consultation on delaying access to the health top-up on universal credit until someone is 22, with the savings to be reinvested into work support and training opportunities. However, ministers have pointed out that the standard universal credit allowance will be increased by £775 per year by 2029/30. The Work Capability Assessment (WCA), which determines if a person is fit for work, will be scrapped in 2028, with financial support for people who are sick or disabled determined solely through the PIP assessment. 1:14 Other reforms include: • Merging jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance • Introducing a "right to try" initiative so people who want to attempt to get back into work won't lose their benefits while they do • The government will provide £1bn for targeted support schemes to help disabled people into work. But it's estimated these will only help 70,000 people find employment. Why are some MPs unhappy? While many MPs believe reform of the system is necessary due to the ballooning cost of the welfare bill - with the cost of long-term sickness and disability benefits for working-age people forecast to hit £70bn over the next five years - they are concerned that the bill does not take the right approach. Concerns among backbenchers range from thinking the cuts are too harsh and will penalise some of the most vulnerable in society, to fear that not enough money and effort is going into the plan to get people into work, and that there has not been a formal consultation with disabled people. One Labour MP told Sky News they believed the fact that the text of the welfare bill was published before the end of the consultation was proof the government was "not listening". They said the £5bn savings package was a "hammer to crack a nut" and added: "We have gone for cut first and reform second. All we are doing is causing pain to people. "We have to make the savings, but this is not the right way to do it." What could the government do now? For now, the government is insisting that the vote on Tuesday will go ahead. Standing in for Sir Keir at the despatch box, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner defended the reforms, arguing that ministers "won't walk away and stand by and abandon millions of people trapped in the failing system". The prime minister repeated Ms Rayner's insistence, telling Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby at the NATO summit: "We're committed to reforming our welfare system. It doesn't work. It traps people. And it has to be reformed. "And it also has to ensure that we've got a welfare system that is fit for the future.
STV News
3 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner to defend welfare reforms at PMQs
Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is set to defend the UK Labour Government's welfare reforms amid a growing rebellion at PMQs on Wednesday. It's the second week in a row that Rayner is filling in for Starmer at PMQs. Last week, the Prime Minister was returning to the UK from the G7 summit in Canada. This week, Starmer is attending a Nato summit at The Hague. Discussions have focused on the volatile situation between Israel and Iran, with leaders, including Starmer, urging diplomacy and the maintenance of a fragile ceasefire. Although the growing global unrest is likely to come up, opposition leaders are expected to focus on a growing Labour party rebellion over the welfare reform proposals. Last week, the UK Government published more details about its proposals. The Bill seeks reductions to the Universal Credit health top up for new claims from April 2026, and to scrap the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). There are plans to review PIP assessments and 'focus PIP on those with higher needs'. The Government tried to make some small concessions to appease unhappy Labour MPs, like ensuring that 200,000 people with the most severe and permanently disabling conditions' Universal Credit benefits would not be reassessed and promising a 13-week transition payment for people losing the daily living component of PIP. However, these clearly did not go far enough for some. On Tuesday, the names of more than 100 Labour MPs who signed an amendment to the welfare reform bill were revealed. Among the rebels are nine Scottish Labour MPs. The amendment essentially seeks to block the cuts to disability and sickness-related benefit payments. Starmer has already doubled down and vowed to press ahead with his Government's proposed welfare changes, despite the rebellion being large enough to wipe out Labour's working majority in Parliament. The Prime Minister will ultimately either be forced to concede and make changes to his welfare reform plans or rely on votes from opposition parties, like the Conservatives, to get the changes approved. Nonetheless, Rayner is likely to be challenged over the situation while she's filling in for Starmer on Wednesday. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
4 days ago
- Business
- The National
Tenth Scottish Labour MP joins rebellion as pressure grows on Anas Sarwar
More than 100 Labour MPs' signatures have appeared on a reasoned amendment explaining why they cannot support the Labour Government's Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, which would cut back disability benefit payments by around £5 billion per year. If passed, which it could with support from opposition parties, the amendment would block the bill from progressing to its second reading when it returns to the Commons on July 1 and would hand Keir Starmer his first major defeat of his time as Prime Minister. The amendment notes that the UK Government's 'own impact assessment estimates that 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty as a result of [the bill], including 50,000 children'. READ MORE: Keir Starmer backs US strikes on Iran as Donald Trump fumes over ceasefire collapse Nine Scottish Labour MPs were among those who signed the reasoned amendment on Monday evening, with Glasgow North East's representative, Maureen Burke (below), confirming she has also added her name on Tuesday. (Image: Captured by Colin Mearns) Burke joins the Scottish Labour MPs Patricia Ferguson, Brian Leishman, Tracy Gilbert, Scott Arthur, Richard Baker, Lilian Jones, Elaine Stewart, Kirsteen Sullivan, and Euan Stainbank in signing the amendment. Scottish Labour leader Sarwar has supported the UK Government's plans to cut welfare. He previously told The Scotsman: 'Even with these changes that are being announced, welfare spending is projected to go up across the UK and go up in Scotland. 'That is not austerity, it is the very opposite of austerity.' But the changes remain controversial, with The Guardian reporting earlier this week that UK Government officials have admitted privately that framing the cuts in financial terms was a mistake, after initially announcing the cuts would save £5bn. In a statement announcing that she had signed the amendment, Burke said she came into politics to raise the living standards in the community in which she lived and worked for her entire life in. This is not an easy decision to take. I understand the need to address Britain's broken social security system which has seen an unsustainable rise in claimants. The statement read: "I support the Government's action to help more people into work through £1 billion of targeted investment, the scrapping of the outdated Work Capability Assessment and the introduction of a Right to Try. "However, I cannot in good conscious vote for this Bill which I believe will push people further into hardship. "I am calling on the Government rethink to ensure that we create a welfare system that is fair for all, financially sustainable and which protects the most vulnerable."
