KEIR Starmer’s Government is poised to confirm cuts to welfare on Tuesday amid mounting backbench disquiet about the potential extent of the reforms.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is expected to outline plans to get more people back to work and cut the cost of the rising benefits bill.
Sir Keir Starmer’s Government is poised to confirm cuts to welfare on Tuesday[/caption]
Downing Street has said there is a “moral and an economic case” for an overhaul and that the changes would put the welfare system “back on a more sustainable path”.
There have been reports that the changes could slash some £5billion of welfare payments.
But there has been mounting unease on the Labour Party‘s backbenches ahead of the anticipated changes, including over potential changes to the personal independence payment (PIP), the main disability benefit.
Reports suggest the scale of the backlash has prompted a rethink of rumoured plans to freeze the level of PIP rather than increase it in line with inflation, delivering a real-terms cut to 3.6 million claimants.
Ms Kendall sought to reassure MPs on Monday that the reforms would ensure “trust and fairness” in the social security system and make sure benefits are available “for people who need it now, and for years to come”.
Ministers insist that reform is necessary, given the number of people in England and Wales claiming either sickness or disability benefit has soared from 2.8 million to about 4.0 million since 2019.
The benefits bill has risen with this increase, reaching £48billion in 2023-24, and is forecast to continue rising to £67billion in 2029-30.
Number 10 has denied that the plans are purely as a result of the UK’s difficult fiscal situation.
