Sir Keir Starmer has reiterated his support for controversial benefit cuts, despite facing criticism from Labour figures like Sir Sadiq Khan.
The prime minister argued that there was a «clear moral case» for the reforms, which aim to reduce the welfare bill by £5bn annually by 2030.
He defended the measures even as over 100 of his own MPs signed an amendment that could potentially block the proposed legislation.
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Initially, many Labour MPs had indicated their support for the proposals in principle, but that support has waned in recent months due to concerns about the impact of the cuts on the most vulnerable.
About 119 Labour MPs have signed a reasoned amendment to oppose the government’s plans, which, if passed, would effectively halt the legislation.
Now, Sir Sadiq, the mayor of London, has joined other Labour figures in calling for a «rethink» of the proposals, warning that they could «destroy [the] financial safety net» for «too many disabled Londoners».
However, speaking with Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby from the NATO summit at The Hague, the prime minister emphasized the need for reform in the welfare system, stating that it was «not working for anyone».
He clarified that the upcoming vote on Tuesday was not a vote of confidence in his leadership but rather on the necessity of reforming the system.
«I believe most colleagues understand the need for reform,» he stated.
«We must proceed with these reforms because the alternative of leaving the system unchanged, without providing assistance, is not a Labour approach. The Labour approach is to reform the system and make it suitable for the future. Therefore, we will continue with these reforms.»
Benefit cuts will ‘destroy financial safety nets’
Following the prime minister’s remarks, Sir Sadiq expressed his belief that more support is needed to help people transition back to work and off benefits, as this is crucial for a thriving London.
However, he cautioned against stripping away the essential safety net that many vulnerable and disabled Londoners rely on.
«After reviewing the government’s plans, it is evident that the impact on London will be significant, and for many disabled Londoners, it will jeopardize their financial safety net,» he warned.
Sir Sadiq urged the government to reconsider its plans urgently and to introduce additional employment and training support promptly, before any individuals lose their benefits.
Sir Keir Starmer made the comments on his way to a NATO summit in the Netherlands. Image: AP
Sir Keir spoke to reporters on the way to the summit about the reforms, expressing concern about the sustainability of the welfare system. He highlighted that around 1,000 people a day are signing up for personal independence payment (PIP), equivalent to the population of Leicester. Sir Keir emphasized the need for reform to ensure the future viability of the welfare system.
The government’s welfare bill, introduced in March, includes proposals to make it harder for some disabled people to qualify for PIP and to cut universal credit. The main changes in the welfare bill focus on PIP and Universal Credit, with controversial elements affecting how disabled individuals qualify for support.
The reasoned amendment calls for a delay in the proposals to assess the impact of the PIP cuts. Concerns have been raised about the potential increase in poverty for 250,000 people due to the changes and the lack of formal consultation with disabled individuals. Labour MPs have expressed unease about the bill, highlighting the need for further explanation and justification for the measures. «People are really worried there is a rush to push through controversial benefit cuts, despite growing criticism from Labour figures like Sir Sadiq Khan,» Sir Keir Starmer reaffirmed. The prime minister defended the reforms, aiming to slash £5bn a year from the welfare bill by 2030, despite over 100 of his own MPs signing an amendment to oppose the legislation. The vote is still scheduled for Tuesday, Downing Street confirmed, despite concerns from influential MPs. Sir Sadiq Khan has called for a «rethink» of the proposals, warning of the impact on vulnerable Londoners. The prime minister argued that the welfare system needs reform and is not working for anyone, emphasizing the need for change. He stated that the vote is not a confidence vote but rather a vote on the necessity of reforming the system. Sir Sadiq urged the government to reconsider and provide additional support before vulnerable individuals lose their benefits, emphasizing the importance of maintaining financial safety nets for disabled Londoners.» The welfare system is deemed ‘unsustainable’ by Sir Keir, who expressed concerns about the increasing number of people signing up for personal independence payment (PIP) each day. He emphasized the need for reforms to ensure the system’s sustainability for the future, as the current rate of sign-ups is not feasible in the long run.
The government’s welfare bill, introduced in March, includes proposals to make it more challenging for some disabled individuals to qualify for PIP, along with cuts to universal credit. These changes have sparked controversy and raised questions about the impact on those who rely on these benefits.
The main changes in the welfare bill focus on PIP and Universal Credit. PIP provides financial assistance to individuals with extra care or mobility needs due to a disability. The proposed changes would require individuals to score a minimum of four points in at least one activity to qualify for the daily living element of PIP, starting from November 2026. This is a departure from the current system where individuals need fewer points across a broader range of tasks to qualify.
Additionally, the health element of Universal Credit will be frozen at £97 per week for existing claimants until 2029/2030, with new claimants receiving a reduced amount of £50 per week. While the government highlights increases in the Universal Credit standard allowance over time, concerns remain about the overall impact on families who rely on these benefits.
Critics of the welfare bill, including some Labour MPs, have raised concerns about the potential increase in poverty resulting from these changes. They argue that cutting support for disabled individuals and those in need contradicts the goal of getting people back into work. The lack of formal consultation with disabled individuals has also been cited as a major issue with the proposed reforms.
The reasoned amendment calls for a delay in implementing the proposals to allow for a thorough assessment of the impact of the PIP cuts. It also highlights worries about the government’s own projections showing a significant number of individuals falling into poverty as a consequence of these changes.
Despite these concerns, Downing Street has indicated that the vote on the welfare bill will proceed as planned. However, there is growing unease among MPs, with many calling for further revisions and explanations of the proposed reforms before moving forward. The rush to implement these changes without proper consideration has raised alarms among lawmakers who fear the potential consequences of hasty decision-making.
Overall, the welfare bill has stirred up controversy and debate within the parliamentary party, with differing opinions on the necessity and implications of the proposed reforms. While there is consensus on the need for reform, there is a call for more thoughtful and transparent discussions to ensure that the welfare system remains effective and sustainable for those who depend on it. Sir Keir Starmer has reaffirmed his desire to push through controversial benefit cuts, despite growing criticism from Labour figures including Sir Sadiq Khan. The prime minister said there was a «clear moral case» for the reforms, which aim to slash £5bn a year from the welfare bill by 2030. He defended the measures after more than 100 of his own MPs signed an amendment that could effectively kill off the proposed legislation. PM warns UK must prepare for war at home – follow latest. Many Labour MPs initially indicated they would back the proposals in principle, but support has ebbed away over recent months over warnings about the impact the cuts could have on the most vulnerable. Around 119 Labour MPs have signed a reasoned amendment to oppose the government’s proposals – which, if passed, would effectively kill the legislation. Now, Sir Sadiq, the mayor of London, has become the most senior Labour figure to call for a «rethink» of the proposals, which he warned would «destroy [the] financial safety net» for «too many disabled Londoners». But speaking earlier to Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby from the NATO summit at The Hague, the prime minister said the welfare system needed reform and was «not working for anyone». He said the vote planned for Tuesday was not a confidence vote in his leadership but on the need to reform the system. «I think most colleagues do accept the case for reform,» he said. «We’ve got to get on and make that reform because the options are: leave the system as it is, trusting people and not helping them, that’s not a Labour option. The Labour option is to reform it and make it fit for the future. So we’re going to press ahead with these reforms.» Benefit cuts will ‘destroy financial safety nets’. Following the comments from the prime minister, Sir Sadiq said he believed that «more must be done to support people» back into work and off benefits, as this was «vital for a healthy and prosperous London». But he also warned: «What we can’t do is take away the vital safety net that so many vulnerable and disabled Londoners rely upon. Having looked at the analysis of the government’s plans, the impact on London will be substantial, and for too many disabled Londoners it will destroy their financial safety net.» Sir Sadiq called on the government to «urgently think again» and said it must «look again at the potential hardship these changes will force on thousands of vulnerable and disabled Londoners». He also urged ministers to bring in additional employment and training support «as soon as possible» and «before anyone starts to lose their benefits». Sir Keir Starmer made the comments on his way to a NATO summit in the Netherlands.
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