2 h. ago UK politics live: Starmer clashes with Diane Abbott as she says there is ‘nothing moral’ about £5bn benefit cuts

Veteran Labour MP accuses Starmer’s Treasury of wishing to ‘balance the books on the back of the most vulnerable’

Politics

2 h. ago UK politics live: Badenoch hits Starmer with ‘emergency budget’ jab about upcoming spring statement

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to deliver a spring statement next week

Politics

3 h. ago Diane Abbott in PMQs showdown with Keir Starmer over 'morality' of benefit cuts

Diane Abbott accused the Government of balancing ‘the country's books on the back of the most vulnerable and poor in society’

Politics

3 h. ago Starmer defends ‘moral’ benefits cuts plan after Diane Abbott says most vulnerable are being used to balance books – UK politics live

Veteran Labour MP says ‘there is nothing moral’ about government plan to cut benefitsLast night, to back up its analysis of the disability cuts, the Institute for Fiscal Studies published two charts illustrating aspects of the changes.This one shows how the £5bn cuts announced yesterday compare in scale to previous benefit cuts, listed here in order of how big they were, in current prices. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago I could not live on £70 a week in benefits, says 'hypocrite' Labour minister as he defends Starmer cuts

Torsten Bell, the pensions minister, said he had a 'mortgage to pay' as he explained why he thought he could not live on that amount.

Politics

3 h. ago PMQs live: Badenoch hits Starmer with ‘emergency budget’ jab about upcoming spring statement

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to deliver a spring statement next week

Events

3 h. ago PMQs live: Kemi Badenoch challenges Keir Starmer over taxes and ‘emergency budget’ before next week’s spring statement

Prime minister takes questions in Commons after decision to slash disability paymentsLast night, to back up its analysis of the disability cuts, the Institute for Fiscal Studies published two charts illustrating aspects of the changes.This one shows how the £5bn cuts announced yesterday compare in scale to previous benefit cuts, listed here in order of how big they were, in current prices. Continue reading...

Economics

4 h. ago Minister refuses to rule out more benefit cuts amid backlash over Liz Kendall move to slash disability payments – UK politics live

Stephen Timms, social security and disability minister, says ‘who knows what will happen in next five years’ as welfare bill is increasing even with cutsMatt Hancock, the former Tory health secretary, has just started giving evidence to the Covid inquiry as part of its inquiry into PPE procurement.There is a live feed here.Of course people who can work should work - no one is questioning that - but for my relatives, friends and neighbours, and your constituents who have the misfortune to suffer from a chronic, debilitating, long-term condition that leaves them bed-bound, unable to leave their home or crushed by mental illness, these cuts will not motivate them to get back to work, it will instead scare and humiliate them and strip them of their dignity and self respect and for some it will send them to an early grave. The blame for this will lie squarely with you and the sycophants within your party who passively support these dreadful cuts. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Benefits cuts – live: Minister refuses to rule out more welfare cuts as Tories criticise ‘rushed’ reforms

Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall unveiled plans on Tuesday to slash welfare bill by £5bn in benefits overhaul

Politics

5 h. ago Voices: Readers clash over Labour’s benefit reforms – from ‘Right to Try’ scheme to making work pay

Critics fear they will unfairly harm disabled people, while supporters argue the system needs reform to reduce unnecessary claims and encourage work

Economics

5 h. ago What a difference a job makes! Minister who used to savage benefit cuts as a lefty think

Torsten Bell, the pensions minister, said he had a 'mortgage to pay' as he explained why he thought he could not live on that amount.

Politics

6 h. ago Benefits cuts – live: Million to lose PIP as Starmer defends reforms ‘plunging families into crisis’

Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall unveiled plans on Tuesday to slash welfare bill by £5bn in benefits overhaul

Society

6 h. ago Scottish Labour health spokeswoman slams UK Government over benefit cuts

Carol Mochan said her own party's government "cannot balance the books on the backs of people who require benefits just to have a passable standard of living".

Politics

6 h. ago Minister accuses Labour left of ‘defending Tory system’ after benefits cuts

Hitting back at left-wing Labour critics of the government, Torsten Bell accused them of ‘defending a Tory system’

Politics

11 h. ago Former Scottish Labour MSP resigns from party in protest at benefit cuts 'punishing the vulnerable'

EXCLUSIVE: Neil Findlay accused the UK Government of trying to "punish and stigmatise the weak, poor and the vulnerable."

Events

14 h. ago DWP slammed for 'bogus' benefit cuts consultation that doesn't ask about controversial plans

Labour's controversial plans to slash £5 billion from the welfare budget have been criticised for failing to hold a proper consultation on the reforms

Politics

19 h. ago What Labour’s welfare cuts mean for benefit claimants – and the other support available

Millions of people will be affected by the changes

Politics

20 h. ago Millions left fearful by drastic DWP benefit cuts that will leave many worse off

DWP Secretary Liz Kendall unveiled major changes to Personal Independent Payments and Universal Credit as she warned the system is 'failing the very people it is supposed to help'

Politics

25 h. ago Minister says jobless youths should consider joining up and serving in the Armed Forces to cut unemployment amid benefit crackdown

Liz Kendall said she 'absolutely agrees' with calls to ensure more young people join the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and British Army.

Politics

26 h. ago DWP benefit cut announcements 'deeply concerning' say charities

Charities say there will be an increase in poverty and branded the cuts 'cruel'

Politics