Labour's proposed welfare reductions were criticized as "disastrous" yesterday because they aimed at the incorrect individuals and did not address comprehensive restructuring.
Sir Keir Starmer His reputation has been severely damaged due to the reforms, which he ultimately abandoned at the last minute last week to prevent a loss in the critical vote happening tomorrow.
He had to concede £3 billion by reducing cuts to disability benefits after 126 rebellious backbenchers vowed to oppose the bill.
But senior Tories stated that Labour is still focusing on the incorrect targets, and that this restructuring will not bring about significant structural changes.
As they claim, this is due to the fact that it doesn't address the increasing cases of people who are certified ill over the phone instead of in person. Covid-19 pandemic.
Concerns have been raised regarding the sharp decline in reassessment numbers, along with assessors receiving £80 bonuses for processing applications more quickly. This frequently leads to individuals being approved as unsuitable for work without thorough evaluation.
Yesterday, Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham urged Labour Members of Parliament to continue voting against the government's 'partial reversal' of welfare cuts scheduled for tomorrow, even after Sir Keir Starmer withdrew his opposition.
Several of Labour's reforms, including cuts to future assistance for individuals needing help with tasks like washing and dressing, were hastily implemented just before Chancellor Rachel Reeves presented her Budget last autumn. This was done after it became clear that her financial calculations did not balance out properly.
Yesterday, Health Secretary Wes Streeting acknowledged that more compromises might be necessary. This statement followed an analysis conducted by the TaxPayers' Alliance advocacy group which revealed that nearly one out of every ten people in Britain currently falls into this category. obtain Personal Independence Payment (PIP) disability support in England and Wales, where over 20% of residents receive these benefits in certain regions .
Esther McVey, who previously served as the Conservative Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, stated: "Their approach is entirely incorrect. They should focus on identifying the vulnerabilities within the system that emerged during the lockdown period...starting with youth unemployment would be logical."
'This was never about reform and assistance. This was to locate £5 billion for Rachel Reeves’s flawed Budget . It is calamitous.’
Following Sir Keir’s policy reversal, individuals currently receiving Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) will maintain their present levels of financial support for disabilities. However, those applying for PIPs after November 2026 might receive an average annual reduction of about £4,000, despite having similar conditions that prevent them from working. Approximately fifty Members of Parliament are anticipated to oppose this change by proposing a fresh amendment. Nonetheless, such opposition would require at least 83 MPs to successfully block the proposed changes.
In the meantime, the 'blob' within Angela Rayner's department in Whitehall will begin indefinite industrial action today. This move protests against the directive to limit remote working. Employees from the Housing Department as well as those affiliated with the Public and Commercial Services union plan to initiate 'work-to-rule' disruptions. These workers had earlier expressed dissatisfaction over being required to be present in the office for three days each week.
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