Austerity 2

Labour MPs launch major rebellion to stop welfare bill

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https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jun/23/labour-mps-launch-major-rebellion-to-stop-benefits-cuts-bill

Liz Kendall urged her colleagues to support the bill; however, dozens of backbenchers have already signed the amendment seeking to kill it off. Photograph: James Veysey/Shutterstock

Amendment intended to kill off legislation that would cut benefits could be backed by up to 100 Labour MPs including senior figures

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Dozens of backbench MPs have signed the amendment. Government whips have already been steeling themselves for a rebellion on the welfare bill when it is first voted on next week.

A senior MP said: “The government hasn’t listened to private concerns so now will have to address these very public ones.”

The aim would be to pass a so-called “reasoned amendment”, which halts the passage of a bill. It means the bill would not pass its second reading, saying that provisions “have not been subject to a formal consultation with disabled people, or co-produced with them, or their carers”.

It also says the bill should not pass until the Office for Budget Responsibility can publish its analysis of the employment impact of the changes this autumn. The amendment adds that most of the additional employment support funding will not be in place until the end of the decade.

It notes the government’s own impact assessment estimates that 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty as a result of the provisions, including 50,000 children. It calls for an assessment of the impact of the changes on health or care needs and for the conclusion of other reviews.

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Original article at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jun/23/labour-mps-launch-major-rebellion-to-stop-benefits-cuts-bill

Keir Starmer says that the Labour Party under his leadership all feel a small part of Scunthorpe.
Keir Starmer says that the Labour Party under his leadership all feel a small part of Scunthorpe.

Continue ReadingLabour MPs launch major rebellion to stop welfare bill

Chancellor “knows know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” say Greens in response to Spending Review

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Green Party Co-leader Adrian Ramsay. Wikipedia CC.
Green Party Co-leader Adrian Ramsay. Wikipedia CC.

Responding to the Spending Review, Green Party Co-Leader, Adrian Ramsay MP, said,

“Today’s Spending Review shows we have a chancellor who seems to know the price of everything and the value of nothing. While today Reeves may have balanced her spreadsheet, it is done on the backs of some of the worst off in our society. The proof is in how many will still be feeling worse off as the cost-of-living crisis bites hard.

People want to feel pride in Britain again, and for this, they need real hope. Hope only comes from seeing how things will improve through real investment in the everyday services we all rely on.

Despite the rhetoric in the chamber, it is clear that this Spending Review represents a squeeze in many frontline budgets. With education, for example, where many schools are already being forced to make difficult budget cuts, core school budgets are set to rise by just 0.6%. It is hard to see this money ever reaching our teachers and children in the classroom. Equally, I am horrified to see real-term cuts to Defra funding, just as the impact of climate change is starting to affect our communities. Now is the time to invest in climate resilience and preparedness.”

He continued, “These ‘tough decisions’ are actually ‘Labour’s political choices’. They are choosing to leave the economy tilted towards those with considerable wealth. Our front-line services continue to deteriorate through a political choice of decline by design. By introducing a wealth tax on the super-rich, we could instead properly invest in our children’s future. We could give them the education they deserve and start now to invest in the climate resilience and preparedness they will need throughout their lives as the climate crisis unfolds.”

Continue ReadingChancellor “knows know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” say Greens in response to Spending Review

Unions won’t accept benefit cuts on the ‘most vulnerable,’ TUC leader says

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/unions-wont-accept-benefit-cuts-most-vulnerable-tuc-leader-says

 House of Commons Handout photo issued by the House of Commons of Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves delivers her Government’s spending review to MPs in the House of Commons, London, June 11, 2025

UNIONS will not accept any benefit cuts that plunge the most vulnerable further into poverty, TUC general secretary Paul Nowak told GMB Congress today.

Speaking before Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her spending review, he told delegates in Brighton that ”if 2024 was a year of change, 2025 has to be a year of deliver, a year where the government makes good its promises to working people.”

He said the first of three priorities for the union federation this year was ”to make sure the government delivers its manifesto commitments that won it the election last year. 

”I want ministers to also think again on their current plans to reform social security,” Mr Nowak said. ”Nobody unable to work should be left out of pocket and nobody in work at the moment or looking for work should see their benefits cut to balance the nation’s books.

”When it comes to social security, we cannot and will not accept the most vulnerable being plunged further into poverty.”

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/unions-wont-accept-benefit-cuts-most-vulnerable-tuc-leader-says

Keir Starmer says that the Labour Party under his leadership all feel a small part of Scunthorpe.
Keir Starmer says that the Labour Party under his leadership all feel a small part of Scunthorpe.
Keir Starmer explains the moral case for cutting disability benefits. He says work will set you free.
Keir Starmer explains the moral case for cutting disability benefits. He says work will set you free.
Continue ReadingUnions won’t accept benefit cuts on the ‘most vulnerable,’ TUC leader says

Work and pensions secretary tells MPs controversial disability benefit reforms will go ahead next year

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https://news.sky.com/story/work-and-pensions-secretary-tells-mps-controversial-disability-benefit-reforms-will-go-ahead-next-year-13382300

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall. File pic: PA

Liz Kendall rejects calls to delay the changes until a full assessment is carried out of the impact on employment, poverty and health.

The government has told MPs it will not back down from its controversial reforms to disability benefits, which are set to be introduced to parliament later this month.

More than 100 Labour MPs are thought to have concerns about the plans to cut nearly £5bn from the welfare bill by restricting personal independence payments (PIP) and the health top-up to Universal Credit.

Charities say the changes will have a “catastrophic” effect on vulnerable people.

The chair of the Commons’ Work and Pensions Committee wrote to the secretary of state, Liz Kendall, last month, calling on the government to delay the changes until a full assessment is carried out of the impact on employment, poverty and health.

Labour MP Debbie Abrahams wrote that while there was a case for reform to disability benefits, “the evidence indicated [these changes] might not improve outcomes for most claimants, but instead push many into poverty and further away from the labour market”.

‘Reforms are needed now’

But Ms Kendall has written back, in a letter made public on Wednesday, to reject the idea because the bill needs final approval from parliament in November in order for the changes to take effect in 2026.

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Article continues at https://news.sky.com/story/work-and-pensions-secretary-tells-mps-controversial-disability-benefit-reforms-will-go-ahead-next-year-13382300

Keir Starmer says that the Labour Party under his leadership all feel a small part of Scunthorpe.
Keir Starmer says that the Labour Party under his leadership all feel a small part of Scunthorpe.
Keir Starmer explains the moral case for cutting disability benefits. He says work will set you free.
Keir Starmer explains the moral case for cutting disability benefits. He says work will set you free.
Continue ReadingWork and pensions secretary tells MPs controversial disability benefit reforms will go ahead next year

Latest TUC poll shows that voters want to tax the rich

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https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/latest-tuc-poll-shows-voters-want-tax-rich

 A view of bank notes

VOTERS want the wealthiest to be taxed more to protect public services, according to a new TUC poll published today. 

The union body survey found that nearly two thirds of Britons agree with increasing taxes for higher brackets to avoid cuts to public services.

Looking to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Spending Review this Wednesday, the TUC called for tax rises for the wealthy and businesses. 

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “The spending review can be the next key step in the government’s plan to rebuild Britain and deliver industrial renewal. 

“Communities are still crying out for meaningful change after more than a decade of Tory austerity and neglect.  

“The global outlook is challenging, but leaving our decimated public services without sufficient investment would risk both future growth and public trust. 

“The message from voters is clear. They want the government to protect and rebuild our public services.”

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Article continues at https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/latest-tuc-poll-shows-voters-want-tax-rich

Continue ReadingLatest TUC poll shows that voters want to tax the rich