Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Kate Whannel and Brian Wheeler, political reporters, covered the recent vote on the government’s benefits bill, which ended with a 75-vote victory after last-minute concessions were offered to Labour rebels. Despite the government already softening their plans by reversing cuts to universal credit and safeguarding current Pip claimants from stricter eligibility rules, concerns remained among some Labour MPs. The worry centered around the new criteria for claiming Pip potentially being enforced before a review’s recommendations could be put in place.
In a bid to avoid a humiliating defeat, the government made another U-turn, deciding not to alter Pip rules until they had the opportunity to assess the review’s findings. This eleventh-hour change significantly dilutes the government’s Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill by stripping away its most substantial provisions. The move not only undermines Sir Keir’s authority, tarnished by a recent series of U-turns, but also casts doubt on the credibility of Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall and places pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending plans, with potential savings of £5 billion now either delayed or lost entirely.
With the motion receiving initial approval through a 335-260 vote, reducing the government’s working majority from 165 to 75, MPs are set to further scrutinize the bill when it returns to the House of Commons on July 9. Despite the government’s earlier alterations aimed at swaying hesitant rebels, concerns persisted during the debate, leading to last-minute concessions by removing portions of the bill that proposed new Pip eligibility rules. The abrupt changes triggered mixed reactions from MPs, with some expressing indignation at the process’s chaotic nature, emphasizing the need for a more coherent and transparent approach.
Initially proposed in March, the government’s benefits system overhaul included measures to restrict Pip eligibility and freeze the health-related component of universal credit, accompanied by a £1 billion aid package to facilitate disabled individuals’ integration into the workforce. Citing surging benefit claims, the government defended the changes as crucial for ensuring the system’s long-term sustainability. However, dissent within Labour ranks escalated progressively, with over 120 MPs threatening to block the bill until the government opted to make revisions, confining stringent rules solely to new claimants post-November 2026 and retracting universal credit adjustments. Despite the concessions swaying some Labour MPs, several others remained resolute in their opposition, signaling a strained relationship between legislators and the government
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.