Hague (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK PM Keir Starmer rejected Labour rebels’ pleas and defended welfare cuts, saying the current benefits system is broken and must be made sustainable.
As reported by The Independent, Sir Keir StarmerKeir Starmer has pledged to move ahead with his welfare plans, which over 100 Labour MPs are ready to challenge.
Keir Starmer’s views on reforming welfare
The prime minister dismissed internal opposition, stating that anyone who values the future of the welfare system should back the proposed changes.
On a flight to the Nato summit in The Hague, Mr Starmer said,
“We were elected to change what is broken in our country. The welfare system is broken, and that’s why we will press ahead with our reforms. It’s very important that we do so, because the current system is not working for anybody.”
He stated,
“People are trapped in it, and I’m not prepared to allow that to happen. So we will press forward with our reforms.”
Mr Starmer rejected claims that he failed to win over Labour MPs on the moral argument for the reforms.
The Labour leader said,
“There is a clear moral case, which is that the current system doesn’t help those who want to get into work. It traps people. I think it’s 1,000 people a day going on to PIP. The additions to PIP each year are the equivalent of the population of a city the size of Leicester. That is not a system that can be left unreformed, not lease because it’s unsustainable, and therefore you won’t have a welfare system for those that need it in the future.”
Referring to the over 100 MPs’ rebels, he added,
“Those that care about a future welfare system have to answer the question – ‘how do you reform what you’ve got to make sure it’s sustainable for the future? But it’s not sustainable to add a city the size of Leicester every year and assume that can be a sustainable future, a model for the future.”
How many Labour MPs are set to rebel on welfare cuts?
More than 100 Labour MPs plan to oppose Keir Starmer’s disability benefit cuts.
MPs planning to rebel next week over welfare reforms have been warned they could lose the whip or face deselection.
The rebellion gained formal ground after 108 MPs signed an amendment urging a pause to next week’s welfare reforms bill.
Pat McFadden’s views on Labour’s welfare reforms rebellion
Pat McFadden, a senior Cabinet minister, said Labour MPs would be heard, though significant changes to the bill remain unlikely.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said the reforms are “crucial” changes that must go ahead.
Mr McFadden stated,
“It’s a good package of reforms. I understand some MPs have signed an amendment. We’ll talk to them over the next week or so between now and the vote, but the government believes that the package of reform put forward is a good package of reform, and hopes that colleagues will engage positively with it over the next few days.”
What did Liz Kendall say about fairness in welfare reform?
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said social justice cannot be achieved through higher benefits alone, though some dismissed her remarks as “cloth-eared.”
The cabinet minister stated,
“Our plans are rooted in fairness, for those who need support and for taxpayers. They are about ensuring the welfare state survives, so there is always a safety net for those who need it. They’re about putting proper safeguards in place to protect the most vulnerable.”
She said,
“But above all, they are about our belief that everyone can fulfil their potential and live their hopes and dreams when, collectively, we provide them with real opportunities and support. This is the better future we seek to build for our constituents and our country.”
Welfare reforms include
- Cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) for all but the most disabled.
- An estimated 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, risk falling into poverty due to the cuts.
- Around 370,000 current PIP claimants may lose £4,500 annually.
- 1.3 million people on daily living PIP may not meet the new criteria.