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Sir Keir Starmer was asked “What is the point” of Labour if it cuts disability benefits during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, 19 March.Colum Eastwood, an MP from Labour’s sister party SDLP in Northern Ireland, outlined the case of a local constituent who will lose their financial support.It comes as the government faced condemnation from unions, charities and some Labour MPs for making “cruel” and “immoral” cuts and seeking to balance the public finances on the backs of some of the poorest people in society.The Resolution Foundation said the tightening of Pip eligibility would mean between 800,000 and 1.2 million people losing support of between £4,200 and £6,300-per-year by the end of the decade. More

A former Tory minister has refused to accept the economy went into recession when Rishi Sunak was prime minister.Ex-pensions minister Mel Stride was asked multiple times to acknowledge that there was a recession under the Conservatives after criticising a lack of growth under Labour so far.“The important thing is, we went through a cost of living crisis,” Mr Stride said as he repeatedly attempted to bat away Sky News presenter Wilfred Frost.“Excuse me, sorry, was there a recession under Rishi Sunak, and has there been a recession under this government,” an exasperated Mr Frost interrupted, before adding that “the non-answer speaks volumes”. More

Diane Abbott has strongly condemned the government’s plans to cut benefits, arguing that reducing financial support is not the answer to helping people move off welfare. The veteran Labour MP made her remarks on the Today programme (17 March) ahead of an expected announcement on changes to the welfare system. Abbott’s criticism follows a growing backlash within her party, with fellow Labour MPs, including John McDonnell and Health Secretary Wes Streeting, also voicing opposition to the proposed cuts. She emphatically stated: “Cutting the money for disabled people is not a Labour thing to do.” More

Wes Streeting was confronted over accusations that Labour is “changing into the Tories” due to the government’s welfare reforms.Speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sunday, 16 March, the health secretary rejected this argument, insisting: “I don’t think that it is a Labour argument to say that we would want people consigned to a life on benefit.”What we are absolutely doing is trying to reform the state so that it’s more effective.”It comes as Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, is due to unveil measures to cut welfare spending before Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement. More

Sir Keir Starmer maintained that Donald Trump is “absolutely committed” to lasting peace in Ukraine, while urging allies to move forward together to achieve an end to Russia’s invasion of the country.After praising the close relationship between the two nations, Sir Keir reiterated the need for “As many countries as possible, thinking together, discussing together, and moving forward together as a group” in a speech on Saturday, 15 March.Mr Trump described US talks with Putin as “very good and productive” and said there was “a very good chance” that Russia’s invasion could “finally come to an end.”It follows his chaotic Oval Office meeting with Volodymyr Zelensky, during which he and JD Vance shouted over the Ukrainian president. More

Wes Streeting squirmed when asked if abolishing NHS England to bring the health service back into government control would result in job losses for doctors and nurses.On Thursday, 13 March, Sir Keir Starmer announced he would abolish the independent quango which has run the health service for more than a decade, cutting up to 10,000 jobs.Ministers said the plans would help deliver savings of hundreds of millions of pounds every year, which would be used to cut waiting times by slashing red tape to help speed up improvements in the health service.Speaking to Andrew Marr, the health secretary said: “I can’t say there’ll be no changes to services.” More