This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c8731w0d8yvo

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 8 Version 9
PM confirms talks with rebels over welfare concessions PM considers welfare cuts concessions in rebel MP talks
(about 4 hours later)
Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed the government is in talks with Labour rebels over concessions on its welfare plans. Sir Keir Starmer is considering softening the government's welfare cuts in an effort to stave off a backbench Labour rebellion.
The prime minister said talks would continue in the coming days to "get it right" ahead of a scheduled vote on Tuesday next week on legislation to deliver the proposals. The prime minister confirmed earlier that talks with rebels were ongoing over making changes to legislation to deliver the proposals.
It comes after more than 120 Labour MPs backed an amendment that would stop the bill progressing through Parliament.It comes after more than 120 Labour MPs backed an amendment that would stop the bill progressing through Parliament.
MPs have continued to sign up to the amendment, despite concerted efforts by ministers and party managers to persuade backbench colleagues to fall in line. Sir Keir himself has been personally calling some rebel MPs to win them over, ahead of a vote on the bill scheduled for Tuesday next week.
The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is understood to be involved in the discussions with rebels.
Six more Labour MPs backed the amendment overnight, bringing the total to 126 - around half those Labour MPs who do not hold a government role.Six more Labour MPs backed the amendment overnight, bringing the total to 126 - around half those Labour MPs who do not hold a government role.
During a statement in the Commons on this week's Nato summit, Sir Keir said he recognised MPs of all parties were "eager" to reform the "broken" welfare system. Speaking in the Commons earlier, Sir Keir said he recognised MPs of all parties were "eager" to reform the "broken" welfare system.
"We want to see reform implemented with Labour values and fairness," he said."We want to see reform implemented with Labour values and fairness," he said.
"That conversation will continue in the coming days, so we can begin making changes together on Tuesday.""That conversation will continue in the coming days, so we can begin making changes together on Tuesday."
Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill changes who would qualify for certain disability and sickness benefits. The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill would change who would qualify for certain disability and sickness benefits.
The bill tightens eligibility requirements for personal independence payments (Pips), halves the health-related element of universal credit (UC), and increases the UC standard allowance. The bill tightens eligibility requirements for personal independence payments (Pips), halves the health-related element of universal credit (UC), alongside increasing the UC standard allowance.
Ministers have said the legislation, which aims to save £5bn a year by 2030, is crucial to slow down the increase in the number of people claiming benefits.
Working-age health-related benefit spending has increased from £36bn to £52bn in the five years between 2019 in 2024, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), a think tank.Working-age health-related benefit spending has increased from £36bn to £52bn in the five years between 2019 in 2024, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), a think tank.
It is expected to double to £66 billion by 2029, without changes to the system. It is expected to double to £66bn by 2029, without changes to the system.
Ministers have said the welfare legislation, which aims to save £5bn a year by 2030, is crucial to slow down the increase in the number of people claiming benefits. But Labour MPs have criticised elements of the proposals, including plans to require Pip claimants to prove they need a higher degree of assistance with tasks such as preparing and eating food, communicating, washing and getting dressed.
The IFS sets out how the change could also save £6bn by 2029 - although the overall spend on welfare is still expected to rise by £8bn to about £60 billion. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said welfare spending is "out of control" during a speech to the British Chambers of Commerce.
However, some Labour MPs have criticised the proposals - arguing there has not been sufficient assessments of the impact of the measures. "The state is bloated, productivity has flatlined and the economy is stuck in first gear," Badenoch said.
Trade minister Douglas Alexander told the BBC he thought there was "common ground" between the government and the rebels. Asked for details of which benefits should be cut, she declined to specify, but said welfare was not "designed" to support "behavioural and mental health conditions like anxiety".
"My sense is overwhelmingly Labour MPs want to get this legislation right," he added. Badenoch pointed to a report by the Centre for Social Justice, which argued cutting mental health benefits for all but the worst cases would save of £7.4bn per year by 2030.
"If there are improvements that can be made, let's have the conversation." The savings could be used to fund 1.5 million additional therapy courses for people with mental-health conditions, the report argued.
Badenoch argued Sir Keir is in the "fight of his life" despite a large majority because his MPs are "too scared to make difficult decisions".
Later, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is expected to call for a "fundamental rethink" of the welfare state in a speech to the British Chambers of Commerce. On Wednesday, Sir Keir said his party was "pretty united" when it came to the notion of reforming the welfare system.
She is expected to say "Britain needs real welfare reform if we're to incentivise takers to become makers".
"I was shocked to hear that the majority of new disability claims in this country are now for behavioural and mental health conditions like anxiety," she is expected to add.
"Under my leadership, the Conservative Party will not shy away from confronting the tough questions that need answering and, more importantly, providing the solutions."
She's expected to highlight a report by the Centre for Social Justice, which calls on the government to target mental health benefits to those with the most severe conditions.
The think tank's modelling shows this approach would deliver savings of £7.4bn per year by 2030.
Its report recommends using £1bn of these savings to fund 1.5 million additional therapy courses for people with mental-health conditions.
Sir Keir Starmer said on Wednesday the party was "pretty united" when it came to the notion of reforming the welfare system.
However, rumbles of criticism began after the government's own assessment into the planned changes, published in March, found they could push 250,000 people into relative poverty.
The prime minister said changes to welfare would be "tough going" but added that "the important thing is to focus on the change that we want to bring about".The prime minister said changes to welfare would be "tough going" but added that "the important thing is to focus on the change that we want to bring about".
He said: "Are there plenty of people and noises off? Yes of course - there always are, there always have been, there always will be." Winter fuel U-turn
One of the main co-ordinators behind the amendment, who did not wish to be named, has told the BBC the government's U-turn on cutting winter fuel payments had emboldened many of those who have signed the amendment.
They told the BBC, MPs "all voted for winter fuel [cuts] and have taken so much grief in our constituencies, so colleagues think why should I take that on again?".
It is understood that plans for the amendment began when Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall offered a partial olive branch to rebels by expanding the transition period for anyone losing Pip from four to 13 weeks.
Commons leader Lucy Powell has confirmed the initial vote on the welfare bill is still scheduled for Tuesday next week, with all its further stages in the Commons scheduled for Wednesday the following week.Commons leader Lucy Powell has confirmed the initial vote on the welfare bill is still scheduled for Tuesday next week, with all its further stages in the Commons scheduled for Wednesday the following week.
In May, Sir Keir announced plans to ease cuts on winter fuel payments following a backlash against moves that saw the pension top-up becoming means-tested. Louise Murphy, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation think tank, called the longer transition period for Pips "a sensible tweak that should ease the blow for those who are no longer eligible for support".
Louise Murphy, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation think tank, said a longer transition period to come off Pips, suggested by ministers earlier this month, was a "a sensible tweak that should ease the blow for those who are no longer eligible for support". But she pointed out that extra funding for employment support - which ministers have been highlighting in their bid to win over Labour MPs - would not come fully into effect until 2029 at the earliest.
But she pointed out extra funding for employment support would not come fully into effect until 2029 at the earliest, saying: "While ministers have softened the stick of welfare cuts, they have not strengthened the carrot of greater employment support."
Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.