Rattled Starmer scrapes by way of on welfare reform after last-minute concession to insurgent MPs | EUROtoday

Sir Keir Starmer has suffered the largest blow to his management since coming into energy a yr in the past after he was compelled to desert a key plank of his controversial profit cuts so as to get them by way of parliament.

While his welfare reform invoice handed its second studying by 335 votes to 260 – a majority of 75 – the prime minister nonetheless suffered the biggest rebel of his premiership to date, with 49 Labour MPs voting to reject the laws.

It got here after a last-ditch announcement that plans to limit eligibility for private independence funds (PIP) – which had been the central pillar of the federal government’s reforms – had been being dropped.

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The chaotic transfer got here simply 90 minutes earlier than MPs had been on account of vote on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill for the primary time, when incapacity minister Sir Stephen Timms introduced that adjustments to PIP initially deliberate for November 2026 is not going to happen till after his evaluation of the profit has concluded.

Sir Keir had already been compelled right into a U-turn final week when greater than 130 Labour MPs signed an modification that may have successfully have killed the invoice off. Among the concessions introduced then was a plan to impose more durable eligibility guidelines solely on future PIP claimants, leaving current recipients unaffected. Critics stated this is able to create a two tier system, whereas the federal government’s personal influence evaluation stated the change would push 150,000 individuals into poverty.

The newest climbdown will trigger a serious headache for chancellor Rachel Reeves; the welfare squeeze was meant to avoid wasting £4.8bn a yr, already watered right down to £2.3bn final week. Postponing any adjustments to PIP means it’s now unsure how a lot the reforms will save.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies on Tuesday warned that the reforms package deal may find yourself costing the taxpayer £100m by 2029-30 if proposals to tighten eligibility for PIP are scrapped following the Timms evaluation.

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The vote adopted a tense debate wherein quite a few Labour MPs criticised the plans and plenty of extra demanded they be postponed.

Paula Barker, Labour MP for Liverpool Wavertree, stated: “Whilst grateful for the concessions, this has additional laid naked the incoherent and shambolic nature of this course of. It is essentially the most unedifying spectacle that I’ve ever seen.”

Ian Lavery, the Labour MP for Blyth and Ashington, said: “It hasn’t been thought through. They haven’t listened to the people who understand the system … we should have withdrawn the bill, had a massive consultation, had a proper Timms review.”

Opening the debate, work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall said: “I do not believe that this is sustainable if we want a welfare state that protects people who most need our help for generations to come.”

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She added: “There is no responsibility in leaving our system of social security to continue as it is, and risk support for it becoming so frayed that it is no longer there to provide a safety net for those who can never work, and who most need our help and support.”

But she was met with immediate opposition from an amendment laid by Labour backbencher Rachael Maskell, which would have killed the bill.

She described society as “dystopian”, adding that the government should introduce a wealth tax rather than cutting benefits.

Ms Maskell’s wrecking amendment was ultimately voted down – but was backed by 49 Labour MPs, highlighting the scale of consternation within Sir Keir’s party.

Emma Lewell, one of 36 signatories of Ms Maskell’s reasoned amendment, told the Commons: “I am sad that we have ended up here because no matter what, regardless of concessions, a vote for this bill today is a vote to plunge 150,000 people into poverty and to tighten eligibility criteria for those who need support the most.”

She added: “We are once again making disabled people pay the price for the economic mess that the party opposite left us. As it stands, we are being asked to vote blind today.”

Among many Labour MPs who stood up to criticise the plans was a highly emotional contribution by Dr Marie Tidball, a disabled MP.

Holding back tears, she said: “[During the Tory austerity years] I vowed then that I would do all I could to create a country which treats disabled people with dignity and respect.

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“With a heavy, damaged coronary heart that I shall be voting in opposition to the invoice right this moment. As a matter of conscience, I would like my constituents to know I can not assist the adjustments as at present drafted on the entrance of the invoice.”

The vote signifies that the laws now goes to the following levels in parliament however leaves the potential of one other main rebel for its third and closing studying after the summer time.

The authorities introduced the plans earlier this yr however incapacity teams have criticised it for failing to seek the advice of, particularly over plans to make it harder to obtain private independence funds (PIPs).

Tory chief Kemi Badenoch sought to capitalise on Sir Keir’s discomfort, accusing ministers of “utter capitulation” and saying the laws was now “pointless”.

“They should bin it, do their homework, and come back with something serious. Starmer cannot govern,” she stated.