3 h. ago Sickness benefits bill ‘devastating’, Starmer says as he defends reforms

The Government announced a raft of welfare measures it says will help bring more people back into jobs, and which will save billions of pounds.

Politics

12 h. ago Government defends major welfare reforms but charities condemn ‘cruel cuts’

The planned changes have been met with anger from Labour MPs, unions and charities.

Politics

13 h. ago Benefits crackdown ‘to save £5bn by 2030’, claims Liz Kendall as disability charities say cuts are ‘immoral’ – UK politics live

Work and pensions secretary says one in 10 people of working age are claiming sickness or disability benefitQ: Why have you changed your mind on this?Badenoch says she has not changed her mind. As a member of the government, she abided by collective responsibility. She says in government she regularly questioned the case for net zero.The person who’s been consistent in all this is me.I’m not going to pretend that I won’t have critics This is politics. Being a politician is about being criticised.What I’m asking people to do is listen to what I’m saying. I am not doing what all the other parties are doing. We are changing the way we do things.That’s not how it works. You can’t just pull [a date] out of the air. And what we did was pick a target and then start thinking of how to get there.We need to start thinking about it in a different way. How does this impact families? How is business going to help us deliver? And that’s what the policy commissions are going to do. Continue readin...

Politics

13 h. ago Liz Kendall unveils UK benefits cuts set to leave many sick and disabled worse off

Welfare secretary announces changes aimed at cutting bill by up to £5bn in face of opposition from Labour MPsUK politics live – latest updatesLiz Kendall, the welfare secretary, has faced down angry Labour MPs to unveil drastic cuts to the UK’s benefits system that will leave many sick and disabled claimants worse off.The measures, which the government argues are needed to “fix the broken benefits system” and balance the nation’s books, are expected to cut £5bn from the benefits bill by the end of the decade. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago Liz Kendall says benefits system ‘holding our country back’ and claims plan to crack down on it will save £5bn by 2030 – UK politics live

Work and pensions secretary says one in 10 people of working age are claiming sickness or disability benefitQ: Why have you changed your mind on this?Badenoch says she has not changed her mind. As a member of the government, she abided by collective responsibility. She says in government she regularly questioned the case for net zero.The person who’s been consistent in all this is me.I’m not going to pretend that I won’t have critics This is politics. Being a politician is about being criticised.What I’m asking people to do is listen to what I’m saying. I am not doing what all the other parties are doing. We are changing the way we do things.That’s not how it works. You can’t just pull [a date] out of the air. And what we did was pick a target and then start thinking of how to get there.We need to start thinking about it in a different way. How does this impact families? How is business going to help us deliver? And that’s what the policy commissions are going to do. Continue readin...

Politics

14 h. ago Scots face new restrictions if applying for sickness or disability benefits under UK Government reform

Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary, said the UK's welfare system is "failing" and not helping enough people get back into work.

Politics

17 h. ago Minister vows ‘life on sickness benefits to end’ for millions as Labour looks to stave off rebellion over welfare cuts

Pat McFadden said the government will ensure the welfare state is ‘fit for 21st century’

Politics

17 h. ago Ministers 'united' behind plans to cut welfare as 'too many' claim disability benefits permanently

Pat McFadden said the Government wanted people off work with mental health, depression and anxiety to be given support but not always financially

Politics

19 h. ago PIP disability benefits cuts live: Liz Kendall set to slash DWP spending risking Labour fury

A package of reforms to sickness and disability benefits is set to be signed off today by Sir Keir Starmer's Government which could cut billions but has led to Labour backbench anger

Events

21 h. ago DWP cuts unveiled today, including £5bn reduction and PIP overhaul

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall says reform is necessary, given the number of people in England and Wales claiming either sickness or disability benefit

Economics

27 h. ago Government to unveil cuts to benefits amid backbench discontent

The number of people in England and Wales claiming either sickness or disability benefit has soared from 2.8 million to about 4.0 million since 2019.

Politics

30 h. ago Keir Starmer issued warning on eve of huge DWP benefit cuts announcement

Keir Starmer's Cabinet will meet on Tuesday to sign-off a controversial package of reforms to sickness and disability benefits - before the plans are announced to MPs

Events

43 h. ago What we know so far about benefits cuts set to be announced by Labour

Disability and sickness benefits could be cut, according to reports

Politics

2 d. ago 'People who can work must to protect the welfare state', says Labour MP Joani Reid

The grand daughter of trade unionist Jimmy Reid has defended her party's planned benefits reforms.

Economics

3 d. ago Labour challenged to tackle rise of 'sickfluencers' helping claimants 'game' the benefits system

The Tories called on the Government to back their proposal to make it a specific offence to assist someone to commit benefits fraud.

Politics

3 d. ago Wes Streeting says making Brits healthier will help cut benefits bill

Writing exclusively for the Sunday Mirror, Mr Streeting argued cutting waiting lists and targeting areas of worklessness with “crack teams” to improve NHS services would help reduce demand for sickness and disability benefits

Science

4 d. ago Rachel Reeves refuses to deny reports two child benefit cap could be eased for under fives

The UK Government is expected to announce plans to cut spending on disability and sickness benefits, but reports have also suggested Ministers could partially scrap the two child cap.

Politics

5 d. ago Why Keir Starmer’s government is seeking to cut benefits bill

Labour targeting sickness and disability benefits which have ballooned amid an increasingly ageing and unwell population Keir Starmer’s government is aiming to cut billions of pounds from welfare spending before the spring statement.The prime minister has warned that Britain’s benefits system is the “worst of all worlds”, before the government publishes a green paper on sickness and disability benefit reform next week. Starmer faces the biggest rebellion of his premiership over the plans. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Why is Keir Starmer’s government seeking to cut the benefits bill?

Labour targeting sickness and disability benefits that have ballooned amid increasingly ageing and unwell populationKeir Starmer’s government is aiming to cut billions of pounds from welfare spending before the spring statement.The prime minister has warned that Britain’s benefits system is the “worst of all worlds”, before the government publishes a green paper on sickness and disability benefit changes next week. Starmer is facing the biggest rebellion of his premiership over the plans. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Labour rebel ‘couldn’t look my mum in the eyes’ and vote for Starmer’s welfare cuts

Divisions in the Labour Party are emerging over plans to cut benefits for the long term sick and disabled

Politics