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| Quarter of Scottish Labour MPs join welfare rebellion | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Brian Leishman is one of nine Scottish Labour MPs who have signed an amendment seeking to block the bill | Brian Leishman is one of nine Scottish Labour MPs who have signed an amendment seeking to block the bill |
| A quarter of Scottish Labour MPs have joined a rebellion against UK government's controversial welfare reforms. | A quarter of Scottish Labour MPs have joined a rebellion against UK government's controversial welfare reforms. |
| Nine out of the party's 37 parliamentarians, including the chair of the Scottish affairs committee, have signed an amendment that would potentially allow them to block controversial changes to the benefits system. | Nine out of the party's 37 parliamentarians, including the chair of the Scottish affairs committee, have signed an amendment that would potentially allow them to block controversial changes to the benefits system. |
| They are part of a group of more than 100 Labour MPs rebelling against Sir Keir Starmer's government. | They are part of a group of more than 100 Labour MPs rebelling against Sir Keir Starmer's government. |
| Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden said ministers were "happy to talk" to MPs with concerns, but defended the bill as "a really important package of benefit reform". | Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden said ministers were "happy to talk" to MPs with concerns, but defended the bill as "a really important package of benefit reform". |
| The government's Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill aims to save £5bn a year by cutting disability and sickness-related benefits. | The government's Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill aims to save £5bn a year by cutting disability and sickness-related benefits. |
| It includes proposals to make it harder for disabled people with less severe conditions to claim personal independence payment (PIP). | |
| The bill has been heavily criticised by some Labour MPs, while the Scottish government warned it would be "devastating" for disabled people. | The bill has been heavily criticised by some Labour MPs, while the Scottish government warned it would be "devastating" for disabled people. |
| A total of 108 Labour MPs have signed an amendment that would give them an opportunity to vote on a proposal to reject the welfare reform bill in its entirety. | A total of 108 Labour MPs have signed an amendment that would give them an opportunity to vote on a proposal to reject the welfare reform bill in its entirety. |
| The amendment said the reforms are expected to push people into relative poverty and expressed concerns about a lack of consultation and an inadequate impact assessment. | The amendment said the reforms are expected to push people into relative poverty and expressed concerns about a lack of consultation and an inadequate impact assessment. |
| The Scottish signatories include the chair of the Scottish affairs committee, Glasgow West MP Patricia Ferguson, and Brian Leishman, who has been outspoken critic of the government over benefits reform, cuts to winter fuel payments and the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery in his Alloa and Grangemouth constituency. | The Scottish signatories include the chair of the Scottish affairs committee, Glasgow West MP Patricia Ferguson, and Brian Leishman, who has been outspoken critic of the government over benefits reform, cuts to winter fuel payments and the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery in his Alloa and Grangemouth constituency. |
| Scottish Labour MPs Elaine Stewart (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock), Tracy Gilbert (Edinburgh North and Leith), Scott Arthur (Edinburgh South West), Euan Stainbank (Falkirk), Lillian Jones (Kilmarnock and Loudoun), Richard Baker (Glenrothes and Mid Fife) and Kirsten Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) have also joined the rebellion. | Scottish Labour MPs Elaine Stewart (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock), Tracy Gilbert (Edinburgh North and Leith), Scott Arthur (Edinburgh South West), Euan Stainbank (Falkirk), Lillian Jones (Kilmarnock and Loudoun), Richard Baker (Glenrothes and Mid Fife) and Kirsten Sullivan (Bathgate and Linlithgow) have also joined the rebellion. |
| In a statement, Gilbert said there was a "real risk that disabled people and children would be left worse off" as a result of the bill. | |
| She added: "As an MP whose number one priority is to eradicate child poverty I cannot ignore the consequences of this policy being implemented which are stated in the government's own impact assessment." | |
| Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said previously that the UK government was right to reform the welfare system but said any changes had to be "fair". | Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said previously that the UK government was right to reform the welfare system but said any changes had to be "fair". |
| Glasgow West MP Patricia Ferguson is among the nine Scottish Labour rebels | Glasgow West MP Patricia Ferguson is among the nine Scottish Labour rebels |
| The UK government has warned that spending on health and disability benefits is forecast to reach £70bn a year by the end of the decade, describing that outlay as "unsustainable". | The UK government has warned that spending on health and disability benefits is forecast to reach £70bn a year by the end of the decade, describing that outlay as "unsustainable". |
| According to the Labour administration's own impact assessment, its reforms could push an extra 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into relative poverty. | According to the Labour administration's own impact assessment, its reforms could push an extra 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into relative poverty. |
| Ministers say that analysis does not consider the government's plans to spend £1bn on helping the long-term sick and disabled back into work, or its efforts to reduce poverty. | Ministers say that analysis does not consider the government's plans to spend £1bn on helping the long-term sick and disabled back into work, or its efforts to reduce poverty. |
| The vote on the bill is scheduled to take place next Tuesday. | The vote on the bill is scheduled to take place next Tuesday. |
| If it passes, the government is aiming to introduce the welfare reforms by November 2026. No-one will lose out on benefits payments until that happens. | If it passes, the government is aiming to introduce the welfare reforms by November 2026. No-one will lose out on benefits payments until that happens. |
| PIP is being phased out in Scotland and replaced by the devolved Adult Disability Payment. However, any cut to spending on PIP by the Treasury would have a knock-on effect on the Scottish government's budget. | |
| UK government minister Pat McFadden said the number of people on long-term sickness and disability benefits was set to double in the coming years. | UK government minister Pat McFadden said the number of people on long-term sickness and disability benefits was set to double in the coming years. |
| "That is not something the government thinks it is right to sit back and be relaxed about," he told BBC Breakfast. | "That is not something the government thinks it is right to sit back and be relaxed about," he told BBC Breakfast. |
| The government has a working majority of 165 in the Commons, meaning that 83 Labour MPs would need to oppose the bill to force a parliamentary defeat. | The government has a working majority of 165 in the Commons, meaning that 83 Labour MPs would need to oppose the bill to force a parliamentary defeat. |
| SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn called on Labour ministers to withdraw the bill. | SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn called on Labour ministers to withdraw the bill. |
| He said: "It's now abundantly clear the prime minister has underestimated the huge scale of opposition to his grotesque Labour Party cuts to disabled people, which by their own estimation will push 250,000 children and disabled families into poverty, and will stain the Labour Party's reputation even worse than their winter fuel payment cuts." | He said: "It's now abundantly clear the prime minister has underestimated the huge scale of opposition to his grotesque Labour Party cuts to disabled people, which by their own estimation will push 250,000 children and disabled families into poverty, and will stain the Labour Party's reputation even worse than their winter fuel payment cuts." |
| A quarter of the Scottish parliamentary party have joined the attempt to block the welfare reform bill. | |
| The scale of the Scottish rebellion has been a little surprising, adding to the overall total. | The scale of the Scottish rebellion has been a little surprising, adding to the overall total. |
| The Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman has been a government critic over the past year - and in particular has mounted a passionate campaign against these changes. | The Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman has been a government critic over the past year - and in particular has mounted a passionate campaign against these changes. |
| But now he's not alone. | But now he's not alone. |
| A significant name in the group of nine is the Scottish Affairs Committee chair, Patricia Ferguson. | A significant name in the group of nine is the Scottish Affairs Committee chair, Patricia Ferguson. |
| The Glasgow West MP is an unlikely rebel - more like Labour royalty as she's a former minister at Holyrood and a deputy presiding officer. | The Glasgow West MP is an unlikely rebel - more like Labour royalty as she's a former minister at Holyrood and a deputy presiding officer. |
| That means a total of 10 Labour select committee chairs are opposed - an authoritative group. | That means a total of 10 Labour select committee chairs are opposed - an authoritative group. |
| Other lesser-known names like Scott Arthur from Edinburgh South West have been making their feelings known. | Other lesser-known names like Scott Arthur from Edinburgh South West have been making their feelings known. |
| In a Facebook post he acknowledges the government is trying to manage the rate of increase but thinks this is not the right way forward. | In a Facebook post he acknowledges the government is trying to manage the rate of increase but thinks this is not the right way forward. |
| The changes are so controversial it's moved others to protest too. | The changes are so controversial it's moved others to protest too. |
| Frustratingly for a journalist, many of the MPs are wanting to keep this argument "in the family" and aren't willing to speak out. | Frustratingly for a journalist, many of the MPs are wanting to keep this argument "in the family" and aren't willing to speak out. |
| But their names are on the amendment and it provides the SNP plenty of ammunition as they seek to highlight divisions in Labour in particular ahead of the Holyrood election next year. | But their names are on the amendment and it provides the SNP plenty of ammunition as they seek to highlight divisions in Labour in particular ahead of the Holyrood election next year. |
| The vast majority, 28 Scottish MPs, remain loyal. | The vast majority, 28 Scottish MPs, remain loyal. |
| But the split with their party colleagues is awkward, to put it mildly, as it adds to the pressure being heaped on the prime minister. | But the split with their party colleagues is awkward, to put it mildly, as it adds to the pressure being heaped on the prime minister. |