3 d. ago Jess Phillips says Labour rebels should not be surprised by the action taken against them – UK politics live

Home Office minister defends Keir Starmer’s decision to remove whip from four MPs and says Labour must ‘act as a team’Good morning. Chief whips tends to be quite secretive, and when four Labour MPs had the whip suspended yesterday, there was no detailed, public explanation as to why they were being punished for rebelling when so many other backbenchers, who have also voted against the party, have not been singled out. As Eleni Courea and Jessica Elgot report in our overnight story, we were just told they were regular rebels.But the best explanation came from the Labour party source who told Geri Scott from the Times that the four MPs – Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff – were being punished for “persistent knobheadery”.I don’t think that the discipline that has been meted out over the last 24 hours is linked to [the welfare bill] because many more people voted against the government than these four people.I actually don’t know because I’m not pa...

Politics

4 d. ago Brian Leishman: Scottish MP among three suspended by Starmer over 'persistent breaches of party discipline'

All three voted against the Government’s planned welfare reforms earlier this month.

Politics

4 d. ago Brian Leishman: Scottish MP among four suspended by Starmer over 'persistent breaches of party discipline'

All voted against the Government’s planned welfare reforms earlier this month.

Politics

4 d. 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

5 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

1 week 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

1 week ago Keir Starmer survives another welfare rebellion amid outrage at DWP disability cuts

Forty five Labour MPs voted against the Government's stripped-down welfare Bill - with backbencher Rachael Maskell branding it a 'stain' on the party

Events

1 week ago Scottish Labour MP to vote against welfare reforms despite Keir Starmer climbdown

EXCLUSIVE: Brian Leishman warned the UK Government is "still proposing enormous cuts" to welfare.

Politics

1 week 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

1 week ago DWP climbdown will now lift 50,000 kids out of poverty instead of pushing them into it

Analysis published on Monday afternoon shows that 50,000 children will be pulled out of poverty after the Government was forced to tear up its controversial welfare legislation

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 Europe does not have to choose between guns and butter. There is another way | Shahin Vallée and Joseph de Weck

Yes, defence spending has to rise – but slashing the welfare state to fund it would be a big mistakeEuropean governments are once again haunted by a tough choice between financing the military or spending on social programmes. That, at any rate, is the narrative that has taken hold since Donald Trump’s retreat from the postwar global security order and the urgent pressure to rearm Europe.But to frame the dilemma facing Europe in this way is a big mistake. History teaches us that the political choice has never been about guns or butter, but rather guns or taxes. 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

2 w. ago Labour policies ‘obscured’ by rows over welfare and winter fuel – Lord Kinnock

The week of Sir Keir Starmer’s first anniversary in Number 10 saw the Prime Minister scrap a raft of the Government’s proposed welfare reforms.

Events

2 w. ago Tories demand foreigners are banned from getting disability benefits as Kemi Badenoch seeks to tighten access to handouts after Labour's U

Kemi Badenoch 's party will attempt to change the Government's welfare Bill to tighten access to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit.

Events

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 PM shoulders blame for welfare fiasco and says No 10 ‘didn’t get process right’

Keir Starmer says Downing Street should have engaged more with Labour MPs and repeats support for Rachel ReevesUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has admitted No 10 “didn’t get the process right” in handling the government’s controversial welfare bill and says he shoulders the blame.Looking to repair some of the damage done by Labour’s 11th hour climbdown on the central plank of its welfare changes, Starmer said the government would reflect on its mistakes. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Reeves will be Chancellor 'into next election', says Starmer after her tears in Commons spooked markets

Prime Minister admits the Government ‘didn’t get the process right’ on welfare reform - after Chancellor told Speaker she was ‘under so much pressure’

Politics

2 w. ago Reeves will be Chancellor 'for years to come', says Starmer after her tears in Commons spooks markets

Prime Minister admits the Government ‘didn’t get the process right’ on welfare reform - after Chancellor told Speaker she was ‘under so much pressure’

Politics