UK Government expected to unveil welfare concessions after talks with Labour rebels

Labour rebels are understood to have been offered concessions by the UK Government on its controversial welfare reforms, with an announcement expected shortly.
Number 10 had been locked in crisis talks with backbenchers after some 126 MPs within the party signed an amendment that would halt the legislation in its tracks.
On Thursday night, sources said a deal was being thrashed out between leading rebels and the Government as it seeks to head off the prospect of Sir Keir Starmer’s first Commons defeat in a crunch vote next week.
The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill has its second reading on Tuesday, the first opportunity for MPs to support or reject it.
If the legislation clears its first hurdle, it will then face a few hours’ examination by all MPs the following week – rather than days or weeks in front of a committee tasked with looking at the Bill.
Pip
The Government’s original package restricted eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability payment in England, and limited the sickness-related element of universal credit.
Existing claimants 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 by aiming to soften the impact of the changes.
However, concessions offered by the Government to save the Bill from defeat are understood to include a commitment that those currently receiving Pip will continue to get the allowance.
This would protect some 370,000 existing claimants who were expected to lose out following reassessment.
Ministers had hoped the reforms would get more people back into work and save up to £5 billion a year, but fresh changes such as these would leave Chancellor Rachel Reeves needing to find more money elsewhere.
Rebels had also been calling for the Government to row back on a freeze in the health element of universal credit, which was expected to lead to a £450 real decline in support for some 2.2 million existing claimants.
The Government had earlier said it was listening to suggestions to improve the legislation amid concerns about the swift timetable of the Bill.
‘Reasoned amendment’
The so-called “reasoned amendment” led by Treasury select committee chairwoman Dame Meg Hillier had argued that disabled people have not been properly consulted and further scrutiny of the changes is needed.
Speaking in the Commons earlier, Sir Keir told MPs he wanted the reforms to demonstrate “Labour values of fairness” and that discussions about the changes would continue over the coming days.
He said 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.”
Mixed reaction
There was mixed reaction among charities to the prospect of concessions. Learning disability charity Mencap said the news would be a “huge relief to thousands of people living in fear of what the future holds”.
“It is the right thing to do and sends a clear message – cutting disability benefits is not a fair way to mend the black hole in the public purse,” director of strategy Jackie O’Sullivan said.
But the MS Society urged rebels to hold firm and block the Bill, insisting any Government offer to water down the reforms would amount to “kicking the can down the road and delaying an inevitable disaster”.
Head of campaigns at the charity, Charlotte Gill, said: “We urge MPs not to be swayed by these last ditch attempts to force through a harmful Bill with supposed concessions.
“The only way to avoid a catastrophe today and in the future is to stop the cuts altogether by halting the Bill in its tracks.”
The Tories described concessions as “the latest in a growing list of screeching U-turns” from the Government.
Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said: “Under pressure from his own MPs Starmer has made another completely unfunded spending commitment.
“Labour’s welfare chaos will cost hardworking taxpayers.
“We can’t afford Labour.”
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Great photo. Buy your picture editor a pint😂
😂 It’s not the first time. They must do it on purpose
The tories are showing their true colours for all to see. Respect to the labour rebels on their stance.
So that’s it then. We can now look forward to the UK being decimated by hard-left socialism. Either until the next election or the country goes bankrupt: whichever comes first.
How is caring for people with disabilities and long term serious chronic health conditions such a crime to you? How can the country go bankrupt after having to survive Luz Truss failed policies?
You really are a bit two aren’t you.
That should have read twp
I hadn’t realised that spending on health related benefits for working age adultsin the UK is expected to rise from 35bn in 2020 to 65bn by 2030 (and that’s ignoring inflation). And all Starmers proposed cuts do is reduce the latter number to 60bn! I can’t imagine many people want these cuts but we will be spending more on these than transport, housing and policing, and half the education budget! And obviously, those will be the things that that will be cut to pay for the rises in health related benefits. Clearly we need to address the root causes of… Read more »
Getting people with disabilities and chronic health conditions rely on these government payments so that they can still stay in work with adjustments made.
I fully know what the benefits are used for! My point is the sums involved are now so vast. No country in Europe spends this much on equivalent benefits.
And it’s no exaggeration to say this spending is coming at the expense of things like education, transport, and policing which also leads to a deterioration in the fabric of society.
From a longer term point of view, I would argue that spending so much on health related benefits now, diminishes our ability to afford these benefits in the future
But there’s plenty of money to to spend on war and vanity projects.
They are working and contributing to the tax system. The numbers have always been getting bigger. Mainly because the value of the pound is getting smaller. The best part of the British system is the value it gives to the weakest person to make them stronger.
Yes let’s get rid of pensions too. As they are one of the largest parts of the benefits Bill. And working tax credits, as they are just used to allow large corporations to pay a pittance in wages.
Oh look its Labour’s little stooge promoting the neoliberal party line again.