Sir Keir Starmer and Diane Abbott have clashed at PMQs, after the veteran Labour MP warned there was “nothing moral” about his government’s £5bn cut to the welfare bill.
As the government faces condemnation from charities, unions and some of its own MPs over the move to axe around one million people’s disability benefits, Ms Abbott told him: “This is not about morality, this is about the Treasury’s wish to balance the country’s books on the back of the most vulnerable and poor people in this society.”
But Sir Keir insisted that it is a “moral issue” that one-in-eight young people are not in employment, education or training. “I’m not going to turn away from that”, he said, adding: “I am genuinely shocked that a million people, young people, are in that position, and I’m not prepared to shrug my shoulders and walk past it.”
Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch criticised the government’s handling of the economy and finances, asking the PM: “The Chancellor claimed that her Budget was a once in a parliamentary reset – so why are we having an emergency Budget next week?”
No 10 says Putin’s refusal to accept Trump ceasefire is ‘disappointing’
Vladimir Putin’s refusal to accept an immediate ceasefire without conditions is “disappointing”, Downing Street has said.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson told reporters: “We obviously welcome President Trump’s efforts to secure a ceasefire in this space, but it is also disappointing that Putin has not agreed to a full-on, immediate ceasefire without conditions, as Ukraine has done.”
MPs laugh as Lee Anderson says he ‘asks sensible questions’ in Commons
Reform MP Lee Anderson drew a wave of laughter from MPs as he claimed to come to the Commons every week “to ask sensible questions”.
He then proceeded to ask the prime minister what he called “a very simple question on behalf of all the net zero sceptics”, asking: “If we became net zero tomorrow, by how much would it reduce the Earth’s temperature by?”
According to the Royal Society, even if greenhouse gas emissions were to suddenly stop, the Earth’s surface temperature would require thousands of years to cool and return to the level in the pre-industrial era. But leading scientists say that reaching net zero is the only way to stop potentially catastrophic further warming in the years to come.
Watch: Farage ‘can’t even lead party that fits in back of a taxi’, jokes Starmer
Starmer backs calls from Gareth Southgate and Adolescence stars to tackle culture of young male violence
Our Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin reports:
UK sickness-related economic inactivity prejected to rise 61% by 2030
The proportion of the UK workforce who are economically inactive because of sickness is projected to rise from 5.4% in the pre-pandemic year of 2019 to 8.0% in 2030, new figures show.
People are classed as economically inactive if they are of working age (16 to 64 years old) and not in employment but not currently looking for work.
The figures are projections, not forecasts or predictions, as they have been modelled on trends over the past five years.
They have been published by the Department for Work & Pensions using data from the Annual Population Survey, Labour Force Survey and the latest Office for National Statistics population projections.
The number of people in the UK workforce who are economically inactive because of sickness is projected to rise from 2.25 million in 2019 to 3.62 million in 2030 – a jump of 61%.
However, over the same period the proportion of the workforce economically inactive for all other reasons – including study, care or early retirement – is projected to fall, from 15.3% to 12.1%.
Trussell Trust says people are ‘terrified of how they might survive’ after welfare cuts
Helen Barnard, director of policy, research and impact at Trussell, said: “We’re deeply concerned by the cuts announced to disability payments today. People at food banks have told us they are terrified of how they might survive.
“We welcome the positive proposals from the Department for Work and Pensions to boost the basic rate to Universal Credit and invest in employment support.
“However, we fear these steps will be undermined by a Treasury drive to make short-term savings. Huge cuts risk pushing more disabled people to the doors of food banks, and will have devastating consequences for us all.
“The UK government was elected on manifesto pledges to end the need for emergency food parcels. This isn’t what people voted for.
“Disabled people are already three times more likely to face hunger, and three quarters of people at food banks are disabled or live with someone who is. Our social security system should be rooted in justice and compassion, able to be there for us all, especially when we need it most.
“This isn’t a done deal. With at least a year before any cuts come into force, there’s still time for the Prime Minister and Chancellor to rethink and make good on today’s promise to restore trust and fairness in the social security system.”
Martin Lewis warns Labour £5bn benefits cuts are ‘fraught with challenges’
My colleague Albert Toth reports:
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‘Sickness not work has paid far too long’, warns leading thinktank after Labour’s £5bn benefit reforms
Our Political Editor David Maddox reports:
Labour MP condemns Starmer over benefits overhaul
Richard Burgon, MP for Leeds East, has warned Sir Keir Starmer the government will face “the mother of all rebellions” if it does not drop its welfare reforms.
Writing on X, Mr Burgon said: “The Prime Minister was unable to answer a simple question today about why a disabled person who needs help to eat, wash and manage toilet needs could no longer get PIP under his proposals.
“The Government must drop this cruel proposal or it’ll face the mother of all rebellions.”
