UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Keir Starmer assured Labour MPs about the necessity of welfare cuts, addressing concerns over increasing disability benefit costs.
The Prime Minister addressed the Parliamentary Labour Party, urging MPs to take a realistic stance as he worked to quash resistance to the significant welfare cuts set to be implemented later this month.
What did Keir Starmer say to address Labour MPs’ concerns over welfare cuts?
Amid rising discontent within Labour, Sir Keir has acted swiftly to address growing concerns over Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ planned welfare cuts. The proposed cuts, targeting disability and long-term sickness benefits, have unsettled MPs, who fear their consequences for vulnerable groups.
He warned MPs,
“The real world is moving quickly and people look to their government not to be buffeted about by that change – not even to merely respond to it – but to seize it and shape it for the benefit of the British people.”
Sir Keir told MPs,
“We’ve found ourselves in a worst of all worlds situation – with the wrong incentives – discouraging people from working, the taxpayer funding a spiralling bill, £70 billion a year by 2030.
Labour leader said,
“A wasted generation. 1 in 8 young people not in education, employment or training and the people who need that safety net still not always getting the dignity they deserve. That’s unsustainable, it’s indefensible and it is unfair, people feel that in their bones. It runs contrary to those deep British values that if you can work, you should. And if you want to work, the government should support you, not stop you.”
He continued,
“This needs to be our offer to people up and down the country: if you can work, we will make work pay. If you need help, that safety net will be there for you. But this is the Labour party. We believe in the dignity of work and we believe in the dignity of every worker.”
Mr Starmer stated,
“Which is why I am not afraid to take the big decisions needed to return this country to their interests. Whether that’s on welfare, immigration, our public services or our public finances. We can’t just shrug our shoulders and look away. We can’t just tinker around the edges. We won’t try and sow division or create distractions, we’ll roll up our sleeves, take responsibility and make the reforms needed to fix what is broken.”
What did Keir Starmer say about Trump and supporting Ukraine?
Labour leader has justified his push to build relations with Donald Trump while defending his approach to strengthening ties with him. His stance comes amid worries over the U.S. administration’s treatment of President Volodymyr Zelensky. However, Sir Keir insists that national security and global diplomacy must remain top priorities.
He stated,
“Our defence and the security of the British people must come first. The extra defence spending I announced last week will rebuild industry across the country. It will support businesses, it will provide good, secure jobs and skills for the next generation. That is what we owe the British people.”
How is Keir Starmer justifying controversial budget cuts?
Criticism rises as Keir Starmer pushes for a 2.5% GDP allocation to increase defence spending, a move that includes reductions in the international aid budget, which has been scaled back to 0.3% of GDP.
As reported by The Independent, public backlash grows over cuts to winter fuel payments for pensioners and the changes affecting farmers.
As Labour MPs debate whether to oppose the welfare cuts, highlighting worries over their impact on the disabled, Keir Starmer insisted that fiscal constraints leave no alternative.
The Labour leader stressed to MPs that unless changes are made, the cost of disability and sickness benefits for working-age individuals could rise to £70 billion by 2030.
Labour MPs’ views say about Starmer’s welfare reforms
A close ally of Keir Starmer revealed that MPs questioned the prime minister about his proposed cuts. Mr. Starmer responded by defending the plan, arguing that both moral and economic justifications supported reducing the benefits bill.
They said, “Even with these reforms, the benefits bill will still be higher in real terms at the end of this parliament than it was at the beginning.”
Another MP disclosed that discussions with the Labour leader included economic expansion and his vision for a peacekeeping.
Keir Starmer’s views about increasing UK defense spending
Mr Starmer confirmed that the UK will increase its defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, highlighting ongoing global conflicts.
He stated,
“It is my first duty as prime minister to keep our country safe. In an ever more dangerous world, increasing the resilience of our country so we can protect the British people, resist future shocks and bolster British interests is vital,” Starmer said, according to a government handout.”