Latest news with #welfareReforms
Yahoo
an hour 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.
BreakingNews.ie
5 hours ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Starmer: Foreign affairs delayed me dealing with welfare rebellion
Sir Keir Starmer has said he did not get to grips with the growing rebellion over welfare reforms earlier as he was focused on international affairs. He also said he took ownership for his decisions and believed as leader he should 'carry the can' when things do not go well. Advertisement The UK prime minister said he was occupied with the G7 and Nato summits and the escalating tensions in the Middle East for much of the past two weeks. He said he was 'heavily focused' on what was happening with Nato and the Middle East all weekend and that his 'full attention really bore down' on the welfare bill on Thursday. He defended the eventual U-turn, which came after more than 100 MPs launched a bid to kill the legislation with an amendment. UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference at the QEII Centre, London. Picture date: Thursday June 26, 2025. 'Getting it right is more important than ploughing on with a package which doesn't necessarily achieve the desired outcome,' Mr Starmer told The Sunday Times. Advertisement He said all the decisions were his and that 'I take ownership of them'. There have been reports that rebel MPs blamed Mr Starmer's chief of staff, Cork native Morgan McSweeney, for the UK government's approach. Mr Starmer said: 'My rule of leadership is, when things go well you get the plaudits; when things don't go well you carry the can. 'I take responsibility for all the decisions made by this government. I do not talk about staff and I'd much prefer it if everybody else didn't.' Advertisement Ministers had hoped the reforms would get more people back into work and save up to £5 billion a year, but the concessions made leave chancellor Rachel Reeves needing to find money elsewhere and point to possible tax rises in the autumn. On Saturday, the prime minister told the Welsh Labour conference the 'broken' welfare system must be fixed 'in a Labour way'. He said: 'We cannot take away the safety net that vulnerable people rely on, and we won't, but we also can't let it become a snare for those who can and want to work.' Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch will hit out at Mr Starmer as 'incapable of sticking to a decision' after he backed down on his plans. Advertisement Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch in conversation with Lord Moore of Etchingham during a Policy Exchange event in London. Picture date: Monday June 23, 2025. The reforms would only have made 'modest reductions to the ballooning welfare bill', but the prime minister was 'too weak to hold the line', the Conservative Party leader is expected to say in a speech next week. The UK government's original welfare package had restricted eligibility for Pip, the main disability payment in England, as well as cutting the health-related element of universal credit. Existing recipients were to be given a 13-week phase-out period of financial support in an earlier move that was seen as a bid to head off opposition. Now, the changes to Pip will be implemented in November 2026 and apply to new claimants only, while all existing recipients of the health element of universal credit will have their incomes protected in real terms. Advertisement The concessions on Pip alone protect some 370,000 people currently receiving the allowance who were set to lose out following reassessment. As a year in office nears, more than half of voters think Labour has underperformed in that time, polling released on Saturday showed. The Opinium survey showed 54 per cent think Labour has done a worse job than expected, while 18 per cent think the party has exceeded expectations.
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Starmer's start as PM worse than Liz Truss, claims expert
Leading historian Sir Anthony Seldon has described Sir Keir Starmer 's start as prime minister as the most inept in a century, suggesting it is even worse than Liz Truss 's brief tenure. Mr Seldon criticised Sir Keir for lacking a clear plan, not consulting previous prime ministers, and having an unclear purpose for his leadership. Polling expert Professor Sir John Curtice agreed, stating it has been the "worst start for any newly elected prime minister, Labour or Conservative". Sir Keir recently admitted he was slow to address a growing rebellion over welfare reforms as he was focussed on foreign affairs like G7, Nato summits, and Middle East tensions. Despite significant backbencher opposition, Starmer is expected to win a crucial vote on welfare reforms on Tuesday.
The Independent
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Independent
Streeting confident about welfare vote amid criticism of ‘two-tier' Pip plans
The Health Secretary signalled confidence that the Government will win a crunch vote on welfare reforms next week, but did not rule out further concessions. Wes Streeting said the changes 'have put us in a much better position' and give 'peace of mind' to those currently in receipt of personal independence payments. The Government's original welfare package had restricted eligibility for Pip, but in a climbdown to stave off a backbench rebellion, the changes will now only apply to new applicants. Mr Streeting said this was not unusual for such a transition. 'When things change and evolve as you bring in new systems, it does change sometimes from group to group, student finance being an example,' he told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme. He said 'we've got to listen' when asked if further concessions could be made on Pip. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has called for the Government to start from scratch on the Bill and said the latest plans were 'divisive and sinister'. 'Creating a two-tier system where younger disabled people and those who become disabled in the future will be disadvantaged and denied access to work and education, is morally wrong,' she said. Disabled Labour MP Olivia Blake said the proposed changes had been 'plucked from the air'. 'This could form an unethical two-tier system that treats two people with the exact same injury or illness differently,' she told The Guardian. The Health Secretary told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that the changes 'have put us in a much better position'. 'As a result of the changes, it means anyone watching this morning who's in receipt of personal independence payments now has the peace of mind of knowing that their situation is protected,' he said. Labour MP Louise Haigh meanwhile said she planned to back the Welfare Bill next week but needed to see the full detail of the new plans on Monday. The former Cabinet minister also said it was a moment for the Government to 'reset'. 'I think this is a moment and an opportunity to reset the Government's relationship with the British public and to move forward, to adopt a different approach to our economic policy and our political strategy,' she told the BBC. On Saturday, the Prime Minister told the Welsh Labour conference the 'broken' welfare system must be fixed 'in a Labour way'. The original plans restricted eligibility for Pip and cut the health-related element of universal credit Existing recipients were to be given a 13-week phase-out period of financial support in an earlier move that was seen as a bid to head off opposition. Now, the changes to Pip will be implemented in November 2026 and apply to new claimants only, while all existing recipients of the health element of universal credit will have their incomes protected in real terms. The concessions on Pip alone protect some 370,000 people currently receiving the allowance who were to lose out after reassessment. Ministers had hoped the reforms would get more people back into work and save up to £5 billion a year, but the concessions left Chancellor Rachel Reeves needing to find money elsewhere and point to possible tax rises in the autumn.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Streeting confident about welfare vote amid criticism of ‘two-tier' Pip plans
The Health Secretary signalled confidence that the Government will win a crunch vote on welfare reforms next week, but did not rule out further concessions. Wes Streeting said the changes 'have put us in a much better position' and give 'peace of mind' to those currently in receipt of personal independence payments. The Government's original welfare package had restricted eligibility for Pip, but in a climbdown to stave off a backbench rebellion, the changes will now only apply to new applicants. Mr Streeting said this was not unusual for such a transition. 'When things change and evolve as you bring in new systems, it does change sometimes from group to group, student finance being an example,' he told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme. He said 'we've got to listen' when asked if further concessions could be made on Pip. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has called for the Government to start from scratch on the Bill and said the latest plans were 'divisive and sinister'. 'Creating a two-tier system where younger disabled people and those who become disabled in the future will be disadvantaged and denied access to work and education, is morally wrong,' she said. Disabled Labour MP Olivia Blake said the proposed changes had been 'plucked from the air'. 'This could form an unethical two-tier system that treats two people with the exact same injury or illness differently,' she told The Guardian. The Health Secretary told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that the changes 'have put us in a much better position'. 'As a result of the changes, it means anyone watching this morning who's in receipt of personal independence payments now has the peace of mind of knowing that their situation is protected,' he said. Labour MP Louise Haigh meanwhile said she planned to back the Welfare Bill next week but needed to see the full detail of the new plans on Monday. The former Cabinet minister also said it was a moment for the Government to 'reset'. 'I think this is a moment and an opportunity to reset the Government's relationship with the British public and to move forward, to adopt a different approach to our economic policy and our political strategy,' she told the BBC. On Saturday, the Prime Minister told the Welsh Labour conference the 'broken' welfare system must be fixed 'in a Labour way'. The original plans restricted eligibility for Pip and cut the health-related element of universal credit Existing recipients were to be given a 13-week phase-out period of financial support in an earlier move that was seen as a bid to head off opposition. Now, the changes to Pip will be implemented in November 2026 and apply to new claimants only, while all existing recipients of the health element of universal credit will have their incomes protected in real terms. The concessions on Pip alone protect some 370,000 people currently receiving the allowance who were to lose out after reassessment. Ministers had hoped the reforms would get more people back into work and save up to £5 billion a year, but the concessions left Chancellor Rachel Reeves needing to find money elsewhere and point to possible tax rises in the autumn.
