UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK PM Keir Starmer calls fixing welfare a “moral imperative” as he faces backlash over benefit cuts, labelling reform a moral duty for Labour.
As reported by Sky News, after ministers rolled back planned welfare cuts, Keir Starmer declared that fixing Britain’s welfare system is a moral duty.
He faced major revolt over his welfare reform plan, which included reducing disability support to slash costs and boost employment.
What did Keir Starmer say about fixing welfare?
During the Labour conference in Llandudno, Sir Keir Starmer said the UK’s welfare system is broken and letting people down daily.
He stated,
“Fixing it is a moral imperative, but we need to do it in a Labour way, conference, and we will.”
The Labour leader alleged that a secret pact may be forming between the Tories, Reform UK, and Plaid Cymru ahead of the next Senedd elections.
He claimed the pact would signal a return to the instability and fractured politics of the past decade.
At the Welsh Labour conference, Mr Starmer appeared on stage alongside Jo Stevens, Eluned Morgan, and Carolyn Harris.
The prime minister praised Baroness Morgan as a “fierce champion for Wales” and “the best person to lead Wales into the future.”
According to him, the £80m transition fund for Port Talbot workers came from “joint efforts of two Labour governments.”
Sir Keir’s stance on Nigel Farage’s Welsh views
Sir Keir branded Nigel Farage a “wolf in Wall Street clothing,” accusing him of having “no idea what he’s talking about” on the matter.
The Labour leader slammed Mr Farage for lacking interest in Wales and failing to present a credible solution for the steelworks at Port Talbot.
Mr Starmer joked,
“When you ask him about Clacton, he thinks he’s running in the 2.10 at Ascot. He’s a wolf in Wall Street clothing.”
What’s behind the claim of a Tory-Plaid-Reform deal?
Opposition parties rejected the PM’s claims of alliances, with Plaid Cymru accusing Labour of “scraping the barrel” with imaginary coalitions.
Labour has fallen to third in Wales, polls reveal, as voters prepare to head to the ballot box next May. Since the 1999 devolution, Labour has remained the leading party in all Senedd elections.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has not ruled out striking deals with Plaid Cymru or Reform ahead of the Senedd election.
What did Keir Starmer say about funding the £3bn welfare U-turn?
Keir Starmer backed the welfare reform on Friday, claiming it offers a fair balance while protecting 370,000 people who risked losing support under reassessment.
He added,
“We talked to colleagues, who’ve made powerful representations, as a result of which we’ve got a package which I think will work, and we can get it right. The funding will be set out in the budget in the usual way, as you’d expect, later in the year.”
What did Rachael Maskell say about Labour’s welfare bill?
Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP for York Central, a critic of the bill, stated,
“They are going to have to go back to the negotiating table … deaf and disabled people’s organisations are rejecting these changes as it fails to address future need and gives no security for people with fluctuating conditions, for instance where people are in remission.”
What did James Taylor say about the welfare cuts?
Its strategy director, James Taylor, said,
“It is encouraging that the government is starting to listen to disabled people and MPs who have been campaigning for change for months. But these plans will still rip billions from the welfare system.”
He added,
“The proposed concessions will create a two-tier benefits system and an unequal future for disabled people. Life costs more if you are disabled. And these cuts will have a devastating effect on disabled people’s health, ability to live independently or work.”