Labour MPs have branded Sir Keir Starmer’s welfare proposals as “Dickensian”, as the prime minister prepares to face a backbench rebellion this evening.
MPs are debating the second reading of the government’s welfare bill ahead of a crunch vote in the Commons this evening.
The bill would see changes made to personal independence payment (Pip) and the health-related element of universal credit.
With the prime minister’s authority on the line, work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall confirmed a number of concessions to cuts on Monday in an effort to head off a major rebellion by Labour backbenchers.
However, dozens of Labour MPs have signed an amendment proposing to sink the legislation on Tuesday.
Rachael Maskell – who tabled the amendment – called the cuts, “Dickensian”, “from a different era and a different party” as she stood in the Commons on Tuesday.
“These are my constituents, my neighbours, my community, my responsibility, and I cannot cross by on the other side,” she said.
MPs will vote on the amendment before voting on the second reading on the bill this evening.
Pictured: Protesters gather outside parliament
Watch: Liz Kendall faces laughter in Commons as she defends Labour’s welfare policies
Welfare plans branded ‘Dickensian’ by Labour MPs
The MP leading an amendment against the Government’s changes to the personal independence payment (Pip) said her party’s proposed cuts were “Dickensian” and from “a different era”.
Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, who urged Liz Kendall to drop the reforms at the 11th hour, is the proposer of an amendment that would kill the Bill at its second reading.
She told MPs: “These Dickensian cuts belong to a different era and a different party. They are far from what this Labour Party is for: a party to protect the poor, as is my purpose, for I am my brother’s keeper.
“These are my constituents, my neighbours, my community, my responsibility, and I cannot cross by on the other side.”
Labour minister fuels speculation with seating choice
The Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
A Labour minister has raised eyebrows after sitting next to Vicky Foxcroft in the Commons, instead of on the front bench.
Environment minister Emma Hardy was spotted taking a spot in parliament next to the former government whip, who last month quit in protest at the government’s welfare bill.
It is not known how much significance the move has, but it was seen as notable on such a significant day – with Sir Keir Starmer bracing for the biggest rebellion of his time as prime minister.
Rachael Maskell warns of impact on disabled abuse victims following Indepenndent reporting
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Ms Maskell, who has tabled an amendment to kill off the legislation, warned: “Disabled victims of domestic violence, as Refuge says, will not be able to leave to find their place of safety without PIP.”
She added: “The olive branch of grace to current claimants gives no mercy to those to come.”
Over the weekend, The Independent published warnings from domestic violence charity Refuge and the Women’s Budget Group, who said that in the long term, the cuts to vital funding for daily living costs for disabled people – which will impact all new claimants – will make it difficult for those at risk to flee abusive relationships.
Reforms branded ‘un-British’ and ‘Orwellian’
Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesman Steve Darling branded the Government’s welfare reforms “un-British” and “unjust” as he confirmed his party will be voting in favour of Rachael Maskell’s reasoned amendment, which aims to halt progress of the Bill.
The Torbay MP said: “This two-tier approach to this system is wrong, and I have, and the Liberal Democrats have, grave concerns that this is un-British, it’s unjust, and it is not the way of our world.
“We’ve heard from the minister saying it’s been done before, but that doesn’t make it right. That doesn’t make it right.
“It is almost Orwellian that we will be having a system where in our law we say that all disabled people are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
He added that Treasury minister Darren Jones’ comments comparing personal independence payments (Pip) to pocket money were “utterly shameful”, and said it was “equally shameful the way this Bill is being dashed through”.
Charity urges MPs to ‘kill the bill’
The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
A leading charity for people with disability is pushing for MPs to vote down the welfare reform bill despite Keir Starmer’s concessions.
As MPs debate the reforms, Disability Rights UK said: “The reason we have PIP is because it costs Disabled people £1,000 more each month to live to the same standard as non-disabled people, because of decisions Governments have made to not address that.”
Diane Abbott’s late appeal to delay the welfare bill
The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
Veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott has made a last minute appeal for the government to delay its welfare bill.
The intervention came as the contentious bill began in the Commons.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter), Ms Abbott said: “It is not too late for the government to see sense on the welfare bill.
Whatever the outcome of tonight’s vote – and it is likely to be close – imposing swingeing cuts on ordinary people has no moral justification.
So it will haunt us into the next election.”
Starmer in ‘dangerous legal territory’ over benefit cuts, leading KC warns
The Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Sir Keir Starmer is in “dangerous legal territory” over his benefit cuts, a leading KC at the prime minister’s former chambers has warned.
Jamie Burton KC, a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, said the welfare reforms will breach the government’s duties under the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities
.“This is a government which prides itself on compliance with international law and criticised the previous government heavily for falling foul of international law in relation to rights of disabled people,” Mr Burton told The Independent.
In a damning assessment of the cuts, Mr Burton said: “States are allowed in restricted circumstances to take backward steps, for example if they can demonstrate they are facing a time of financial crisis, But the Government has not made that claim. Instead, it argues that the system is broken or there are too many people claiming, but without investigating the reasons.
“There may be an argument for reform, but these changes are completely arbitrary and being introduced before the review of the PIP system has even started.”
He added: “For that reason alone, the UN will likely see this this looks like an ill-thought through policy designed to save some money fast.
“In my view, although the government has made some concessions, is it still in very dangerous legal territory. It would be much better to delay the reforms until the promised review of PIP is finished, with disabled people involved from start to finish.”
Key Labour rebel shares emotional stories of disabled constituents
Rachael Maskell, one of the key Labour MPs rebelling against welfare reforms, has stood to speak in today’s debate.
She shared stories of some disabled constituents she has spoken with, some of whom told her they felt “dehumanised”.
“These Dickensian cuts belong to a different era and a different party,” she said.
“These are my neighbours, my constituents, my responsibility and I cannot cross by on the other side for one, let alone for the 150,000 who will be pushed further into poverty.”
The Speaker of the house selected the reasoned amendment tabled by Ms Maskell.
The amendment – which was publicly signed by 39 Labour MPs – would kill the welfare reforms if backed by the Commons on Tuesday.
