25 h. ago DWP boss defends welfare reform changes after PIP plans put on hold

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall acknowledged it had been a “bumpy ride when she appeared before the Work and Pensions Committee on Wednesday.

Economics

44 h. ago Kendall defends welfare reform plan after Government forced to ditch key parts

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall insisted she was motivated by getting people into work rather than cutting costs.

Politics

3 d. ago Disabled people want to live a full life. Instead, we’re forced to scrap over our right to food and a wash | Frances Ryan

Britain’s political and media class advocate policies that leave disabled people hungry and dirty. Why are we expected to settle for this?There is a longstanding practice in UK politics and media to force disabled people to fight for their basic rights – a kind of gladiatorial scrap in which the Colosseum is replaced by the set of Good Morning Britain.With the government’s welfare reform bill just passed by MPs, this has felt all the more stark. In the last week alone, the leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, has used a speech to declare she does not “believe” that one in four people are disabled, as if the Equality Act were based on vibes. “Twenty-eight million people in Britain are working to pay the wages and benefits of 28 million others,” she went on. “The rider is as big as the horse.”Frances Ryan is a Guardian columnist. She is the author of Who Wants Normal? The Disabled Girls’ Guide to Life Continue reading...

Society

3 d. ago DWP update over Blue Badges and free buses for PIP claimants after welfare reform

The government has announced that people who currently receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and use the Blue Badge scheme will not be affected by the upcoming welfare reforms

Politics

8 d. ago Government sees off backbench rebellion as welfare reforms clear Commons

‘If you can work, you should,’ social security minister Sir Stephen Timms told MPs before they voted on the welfare reforms.

Politics

9 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: US weapons supply pause ‘caught Trump off guard’

Russian claim of deadly Ukrainian attack on Kursk beach; convictions over Wagner arson attack in London. What we know on day 1,232Trump criticises Putin and promises Patriots for UkraineDonald Trump was reportedly caught off guard by the Pentagon’s abrupt move to pause Ukraine weapons deliveries, which the president has overturned. The Associated Press cited three people familiar with the matter, one of whom described Trump as being caught “flat footed” by last week’s announcement. A Pentagon spokesperson denied that the defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, had acted without consulting the president. But asked by a reporter on Tuesday who had approved the pause, Trump bristled at the question while he was gathered with his Cabinet. “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”Trump on Tuesday voiced his frustration with Vladimir Putin and promised to send Ukraine 10 Patriot missiles, which are claimed to be in short supply. Speaking at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump said he was getting in...

Events

9 d. ago Ministers face fresh challenge to welfare reforms in Wednesday votes

Labour MP for York Central Rachael Maskell accused the Government of being ‘stubborn’ in its welfare reform efforts.

Politics

9 d. ago Trump looking at more Russia sanctions and complains about Putin’s behavior being ‘nice’ but ‘meaningless’ – US politics live

US president tells cabinet he is ‘not happy’ with Russian president’s continued war on Ukraine but suggests any action would come as ‘a little surprise’Dan Osborn, the independent candidate who came surprisingly close to defeating Republican senator Deb Fischer in Nebraska last year, announced on Tuesday he will run for the state’s other Senate seat in 2026 against GOP senator Pete Ricketts.The industrial mechanic and former Kellogg’s strike leader lost to Fischer by less than seven points in 2024 – a remarkable result in deep-red Nebraska. Osborn received 66,000 more votes than Kamala Harris, who lost the state to Donald Trump by 20 points in the presidential race. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago OBR: Vulnerable UK faces 'daunting' threats to stability of public finances after welfare climbdown

Successive governments’ efforts to put the UK public finances have met with only “limited and temporary success” says watchdog

Economics

1 week ago Before the government overhauls special educational needs, lessons must be learnt

Editorial: The welfare reform bill fiasco has made rethinking education, health and care plans infinitely more difficult. Any reforms must clearly be for the benefit of the recipients – not driven by the Treasury’s need to make savings

Politics

1 week ago Nigel Farage says flaws in Reform UK’s candidate vetting process were not his fault – UK politics live

Farage says any errors in the runup to the 2024 general election cannot be laid at his door as he was not party leader at the timeThe Conservatives will try to change the government’s welfare Bill to tighten up access to personal independence payments (Pip) and universal credit, PA Media reports. PA says:Kemi Badenoch will pledge that the Tories are “now the only party committed to serious welfare reform” after Keir Starmer shelved plans to restrict eligibility for Pip in the face of a backbench revolt this week.The Tories will look to lay amendments to the legislation – set to be renamed the universal credit bill – and party leader Badenoch is due to deliver a speech on welfare on Thursday. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Minister won’t rule out support cuts for children with EHCPs amid Send overhaul – UK politics live

Stephen Morgan, the early education minister, would not confirm every child who has an EHCP would continue to keep the same provisionsThe Conservatives will try to change the government’s welfare Bill to tighten up access to personal independence payments (Pip) and universal credit, PA Media reports. PA says:Kemi Badenoch will pledge that the Tories are “now the only party committed to serious welfare reform” after Keir Starmer shelved plans to restrict eligibility for Pip in the face of a backbench revolt this week.The Tories will look to lay amendments to the legislation – set to be renamed the universal credit bill – and party leader Badenoch is due to deliver a speech on welfare on Thursday. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Ministers ‘pushed ahead too fast’ on welfare reform, says Phillipson

The Government warned there would be financial consequences to the decision not to reform personal independence payment as planned.

Politics

1 week ago Readers’ letters: Labour rebels were elected with a welfare reform mandate

A reader says Rachel Reeves’ tears would be understandable if they were about Labour rebels wrecking her work to reform the benefits system

Politics

1 week ago Can Starmer and Reeves hold the Labour Party together? Ask John Rentoul anything

The Independent’s chief political commentator, John Rentoul, is here to answer your questions as Labour grapples with a welfare reform crisis, mounting pressure on Keir Starmer’s leadership, and growing doubts over Rachel Reeves’s position

Society

2 w. ago DWP benefits reform faces new challenge as Labour MPs back plan to widen eligibility

Labour backbencher Graeme Downie has proposed a welfare reform Bill amendment that would make the lives of sickness and disability benefit claimants simpler

Politics

2 w. ago Now Reeves hints taxes WILL go up: After she vowed there'd be no more hikes, public is warned of £40BILLION bill in Budget

The Chancellor said there would be 'a cost' to this week's U-turn on welfare reform, which she said would be 'reflected in the Budget'.

Economics

2 w. ago Government still reforming ‘utterly broken’ welfare system – Murray

The Scottish Secretary said the Government is still on a ‘journey’ of welfare reform.

Politics

2 w. ago NI Communities Minister attacks ‘shameful’ welfare reform plans

Gordon Lyons said the Labour Government had made an ‘incredible mess’ of its welfare reform agenda.

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer vows to press on with welfare reform as he takes blame for U

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer acknowledged his Government did not ‘get the process right’.

Politics