Frantic bid to quell Labour revolt on £5bn benefits cuts: Unions join backlash as MPs are called in for talks at No10 after announcement delayed_Nhy
Keir Starmer is frantically trying to quell a revolt on benefits reforms today after the announcement was delayed.
Measures to slash £5billion from the spiralling welfare bill had been expected yesterday, but have faced a furious backlash.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is now set to unveil the plans early next week, with a major operation under way to win over sceptics.
Labour MPs have been invited into Downing Street for ’round table’ sessions explaining the changes – including tightening rules on sickness and disability benefits and favouring people who lose jobs over long-term claimants.
But ministers are facing fresh resistance from unions, with the head of the TUC Paul Nowak warning against a return to ‘Tory austerity’.
‘Pushing disabled people into hardship with cuts to support will only make the current challenges worse — and will not win public support,’ he said.
Sir Keir was faced with grumbling at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party on Monday night, as he argued that Brits were being incentivised not to work.
Keir Starmer is frantically trying to quell a revolt on benefits reforms today after the announcement was delayed
There are fears dozens of MPs will oppose the reforms, including imposing tougher conditions on sickness handouts and prioritising support for those who have paid into the system.
Although the government’s huge majority means Sir Keir can force through measures a big rebellion would still be damaging.
Some opponents are urging the Chancellor to change her ‘fiscal rules’ to allow more borrowing instead of cutting welfare.
One MP told Playbook that the government was ‘sleepwalking into a winter fuel allowance, part two’.
They added: ‘They think people will welcome a crackdown on so-called benefit scroungers but instead will find people do not look kindly on vulnerable disabled people having their benefits cut during a cost-of-living crisis.’
Rachel Reeves wants to slash £5billion off the benefits bill to help balance the books at the Spring Statement later this month.
Ministers are also looking at longer term reforms designed to curb a health and disability benefits bill forecast to hit £100billion a year by the end of the decade.
Addressing Labour MPs behind closed doors last night, the PM said the government was in a ‘worst of all worlds situation’ with the ‘wrong incentives’.
He said one in eight young people were now not in education, employment or training, adding: ‘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.’
Sir Keir told his MPs that voters ‘want the status quo to be challenged’, as he vowed to be ‘ruthless and bold’ in driving through reforms.
Ministers are facing fresh resistance from unions, with the head of the TUC Paul Nowak warning against a return to ‘ Tory austerity’
