Welfare concessions to be set out earlier than key vote

Political reporter

The federal government is to launch extra particulars concerning the concessions it has remodeled proposed welfare modifications, as ministers try and quell a revolt of Labour MPs.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall mentioned the federal government is aiming to ship a “fairer, extra compassionate” advantages system, forward of a vote on its reforms on Tuesday.
Final week, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was pressured right into a U-turn to salvage his advantages modifications after greater than 120 Labour MPs threatened to vote down his plans.
The cope with insurgent MPs suggests the welfare reforms will solely save £2bn a yr, reasonably than the £5bn they had been anticipated to save lots of by 2030.
The Conservatives mentioned ministers had wasted a chance to reform welfare and have known as for cuts to psychological well being advantages for all however the worst instances.
The unique welfare reform invoice included proposals to limit eligibility for the private independence cost (Pip) and reduce the health-related ingredient of common credit score.
However an modification that may have halted the invoice at its first hurdle was signed by 126 Labour backbenchers, who argued the plans had been rushed and would push susceptible disabled individuals into poverty.
When it turned clear the invoice would fall, the prime minister provided main concessions to insurgent MPs – together with limiting Pip cuts to solely new claimants.
The federal government additionally reversed its plans to freeze the health-related element of common credit score, and the cost will now rise in keeping with inflation for present recipients.
Ministers will define the phrases of a evaluate of the Pip evaluation, to be led by disabilities minister Sir Stephen Timms in collaboration with disabled individuals.
The rules that may convey into impact the precise for individuals receiving well being and incapacity advantages to attempt work with out worry of reassessment may also be laid in Parliament.
However dozens of Labour MPs nonetheless have misgivings about the advantages modifications and will defy the federal government in Tuesday’s vote.
Clive Efford, the Labour MP for Eltham and Chislehurst since 1997, informed the BBC he would nonetheless oppose the federal government’s welfare plans regardless of important concessions.
When requested whether or not he had modified his thoughts, he mentioned: “No, I’ve not, I am afraid.
“There are nonetheless £3.5bn value of financial savings which are required in these measures and we do not but know the poverty affect that they may have.”
Efford mentioned he thought a lot of his Labour colleagues had been “ready to listen to what the federal government are saying at the moment” and the way the amended proposals would affect advantages recipients.
He added: “Till we all know and perceive the affect on them we should not be taking what I see as a leap at the hours of darkness.”
Efforts continued by means of the weekend to speak to Labour MPs concerning the modifications, and Kendall will hope to offer additional reassurance to these nonetheless wavering forward of Tuesday’s vote on the second studying of the brand new legislation, known as the Common Credit score and Private Independence Fee Invoice.
Kendall mentioned: “We should construct a welfare system that gives safety for individuals who can’t work and the precise help for individuals who can.
“Too usually, disabled individuals really feel trapped, apprehensive that in the event that they attempt to work, they might lose the help they depend upon.
“That’s the reason we’re taking motion to take away these boundaries, help disabled individuals to reside with dignity and independence, and open routes into employment for individuals who need to pursue it.”
The Liberal Democrats are planning to vote towards the invoice and have known as for the federal government to convey ahead its programme to assist individuals into work extra rapidly.
Deputy chief Daisy Cooper mentioned: “Liberal Democrats merely can’t help any measures that make issues tougher for unpaid carers, disabled individuals who depend on help with every day duties with a purpose to keep employed, and people whose disabilities imply that they may by no means be capable to work.”
Ministers hope their reforms will increase employment amongst advantages recipients, at a time when 2.8 million individuals are economically inactive as a result of long-term illness.
If nothing modifications, the well being and incapacity advantages invoice is forecast to succeed in £70bn a yr by the top of the last decade, a degree of spending the federal government says is “unsustainable”.