Government wins welfare bill vote after making big concessions to rebels

The federal government has gained a vote on its advantages invoice by 75 votes, however solely after providing last-minute concessions to Labour rebels.Ministers had already watered down their plans as soon as by reversing cuts to common credit score and defending present claimants of private independence fee (Pip) from stricter eligibility guidelines.Nevertheless, some Labour MPs had been nonetheless involved the brand new standards for claiming Pip would come into drive earlier than the suggestions of a evaluate could possibly be carried out.Fearing a humiliating defeat, the federal government introduced an extra U-turn, saying it might not change Pip guidelines till it had time to think about the evaluate’s conclusions – dealing a blow to Sir Keir Starmer’s authority.The eleventh-hour adjustments go away the federal government’s Common Credit score and Private Independence Fee Invoice gutted of its most important measures.The transfer places stress on the Treasury’s spending plans, as potential financial savings of round £5bn will now be delayed or misplaced solely. It additionally undermines Sir Keir’s authority, which has been known as into query by a sequence of U-turns lately, and that of Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall.Talking after the vote, Kendall mentioned: “I want we had obtained thus far another way.”She mentioned there have been “classes to be taught from the method” however defended the invoice arguing it put in place “actually necessary reforms” to assist those that can, again into work.She insisted Labour MPs had been “100% behind the prime minister”. Following a tumultuous few hours in Parliament, MPs voted by 335 votes to 260 to present the invoice their preliminary approval. The end result noticed the federal government’s working majority reduce from 165 to 75.MPs will proceed to scrutinise the invoice when it returns to the Home of Commons on Wednesday 9 July.Ministers had hoped adjustments made final week had satisfied wavering rebels to again the invoice, however in the course of the debate many nonetheless expressed issues.Lower than two hours earlier than the ultimate vote, incapacity minister Sir Stephen Timms informed MPs the federal government was making additional compromises, by eradicating sections of the invoice which might have launched new Pip eligibility guidelines.”We’ll transfer straight on to the broader evaluate and solely make adjustments to Pip eligibility exercise and descriptors following that evaluate,” he informed MPs.A number of MPs expressed anger and frustration on the last-minute adjustments. Labour MP Paula Barker mentioned: “While grateful for the concessions, this has additional laid naked the incoherent and shambolic nature of this course of – it’s the most unedifying spectacle that I’ve ever seen.”Labour’s Mary Kelly Foy informed MPs: “I popped out for a banana earlier on and, once I got here again in, issues had modified once more. So I am much more unclear on what I am voting on.”After the vote had taken place, Labour’s Ian Lavery informed the BBC: “That is an absolute shambles. I’ve by no means seen something prefer it.”Each the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives criticised the method and mentioned the invoice ought to be pulled solely. The federal government initially introduced its plans for a shake-up of the advantages system in March, together with measures to restrict eligibility for Pip, the primary incapacity profit in England, Wales and Northern Eire, and freeze the health-related component of common credit score.Alongside the measures, it promised a £1bn package deal of assist to assist disabled individuals and people with long-term situations into work. Defending the proposals, the federal government has pointed to steep rises within the numbers claiming advantages and mentioned making adjustments was the one approach to make sure the system remained sustainable sooner or later.Ministers additionally mentioned the present set-up left individuals depending on welfare, with out giving them correct assist to search out work. Nevertheless, for weeks there had been rising discontent within the Labour ranks, who feared it might push individuals into poverty. Final week greater than 120 MPs threatened to dam the invoice – main the federal government to say it might change the laws to make sure the stricter guidelines would solely apply to these claiming after November 2026, quite than present claimants. It additionally reversed its plans on common credit score.The transfer was sufficient to persuade some Labour MPs, together with Dame Meg Hillier who had led efforts to dam the invoice. Talking in the course of the debate on Tuesday, she mentioned she could be backing the federal government’s invoice however warned ministers to not ignore backbenchers’ opinions in future.However her social gathering colleague Rachael Maskell informed MPs she would nonetheless be opposing the invoice, including: “These Dickensian cuts belong to a special period and a special social gathering – they’re removed from what this Labour Get together is for.”The stress from backbench MPs led to Sir Stephen’s announcement within the Home of Commons that the federal government would solely make adjustments to Pip after the evaluate has concluded.Regardless of the a number of climbdowns, 44 Labour MPs nonetheless voted for an modification blocking the invoice’s passage. At occasions, Tuesday’s debate highlighted a breakdown of belief between the federal government and its personal backbenchers.Even these Labour MPs who had been persuaded by the Pips concessions mentioned they’d vote towards the invoice at a later stage if ministers didn’t maintain true to their phrase.There was specific confusion about what Sir Stephen’s promise to take away tighter Pips assessments from invoice would imply in apply – and whether or not MPs would get a say over it.Talking afterwards, one of many rebels, Paula Barker, mentioned: “I’m not certain that every one colleagues understood what they voted for.”She mentioned she hoped this “unedifying spectacle” would set off a “reset” within the authorities’s relations with its personal MPs, including: “Maybe they are going to query why so many people are doubting what they’re saying.””All of us need the Labour authorities to succeed,” she added.One other insurgent, Richard Burgon mentioned: “If the federal government would not ship on its guarantees on private independence funds, if they do not take out cuts to common credit score there’s a chance that this invoice may nonetheless be defeated.”It’s only per week to go however per week’s a very long time in politics.”