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A significant faction of Labour MPs have expressed their staunch opposition to the government’s planned £5 billion cuts to benefits, pledging not to support any legislation aimed at implementing these reductions, even if the government offers additional funds to combat child poverty as a means to sway their stance.
In early June, new legislation is set to be presented to the House of Commons, facilitating the enforcement of these cuts. The proposed changes include stricter eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), which may reduce the number of individuals with disabilities who qualify. For instance, those who cannot wash the lower half of their body will no longer be eligible for PIP unless they face additional limiting conditions.
Despite efforts by party whips and government representatives to soften the resistance among Labour MPs, a formidable rebellion is solidifying within the party ranks. This trend appears to be gaining momentum rather than diminishing.
To mitigate dissent, some officials propose revealing a long-awaited strategy to address child poverty just ahead of crucial votes in the Commons. This strategy could include limited financial support for families with children under five, which is estimated to require a budget less than the £3.6 billion necessary to abolish the contentious two-child limit on benefit payments. Acknowledging current fiscal constraints, the government has accepted that eliminating the cap is unfeasible in the near term.
Many Labour MPs have indicated their strong disapproval of any compromises that might involve addressing child poverty at the expense of vulnerable disabled individuals. Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP representing York Central, emphasized this point, stating: “You cannot justify a trade-off where alleviating poverty for one group of children results in increased hardship for another vulnerable population.”
Maskell continued, advocating for greater governmental awareness of the prevalent opposition to these policies among MPs, civil society, and the general public, stressing the need for a more compassionate approach.
Recent discussions between ministers and concerned Labour MPs have yielded little resolution, with reports indicating that the concerns may actually be intensifying. A coalition of MPs seems poised to advocate for a comprehensive reevaluation of the proposed legislative measures, and government insiders claim that apprehension about the cuts is higher than before, making it essential for the party to address these reform issues.
Another point of contention among Labour MPs is the timing of the vote on the benefit cuts, which may occur before the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has completed its assessment regarding the potential impact of these reductions on welfare dependency – a key aim of the legislation. The OBR’s findings are not expected until the autumn.
Last month, Keir Starmer articulated that both moral and economic justifications necessitate reforming the benefit system, stating that current conditions are untenable from both perspectives. His commitment includes establishing clear principles to safeguard those in need while also advocating for policies that assist individuals re-entering the workforce.
Neil Duncan-Jordan, who represents Poole in Dorset and has a slim majority, mirrored the sentiments of discontent regarding the cuts. With over 5,000 PIP recipients in his constituency, he voiced definitive opposition to any compromise, asserting that the approach taken is fundamentally flawed. He cautioned that backing the cuts could jeopardize his political career, given the narrow margin of his electoral victory.
Duncan-Jordan also criticized the rationale behind pushing for a vote on the cuts before obtaining critical data from the OBR on their effectiveness concerning employment transitions. “We are being asked to accept risks without concrete evidence; this approach is illogical,” he remarked.
In its accompanying report, the OBR highlighted uncertainties surrounding the full ramifications of the proposed policies, due to the complex interactions between health, demographic changes, and economic factors with the benefits system. Historical data suggests that welfare reforms often produced less savings than initially anticipated, as seen in past transitions to PIP and the rollout of universal credit.
The OBR confirmed its commitment to providing a thorough analysis of the prospective effects that the proposed policies may have on the labor market ahead of its next forecast.
Source
www.theguardian.com