Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing growing opposition as the government prepares to unveil changes to the welfare system. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is set to outline reforms on Tuesday, aiming to encourage more people back into work and reduce benefit spending.
Ministers have been reviewing eligibility for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), which provide financial support to individuals with long-term health conditions and disabilities. The review follows comments from Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who claimed there was an “over-diagnosis” of mental health conditions and that too many people were being “written off.”
Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice, criticised the government’s approach, accusing ministers of taking the “quick and easy” route by cutting funding without ensuring adequate support for those transitioning into work. She warned that such measures could harm efforts to improve living standards and combat poverty.
Discontent is also growing within Labour’s own ranks. Several backbench MPs have expressed frustration over a lack of consultation, with some describing No 10’s engagement efforts as merely a “tick-box exercise.” Reports initially suggested PIP payments might be frozen for a year, but fierce opposition from Labour MPs has led ministers to reconsider.
One Labour MP warned that freezing PIP would be “unforgivable,” arguing that many recipients have complex disabilities and rely on government support as part of the “social contract.” Another MP, typically supportive of Starmer, stated that while they agreed on the need to encourage employment, penalising severely disabled individuals was “unacceptable.”
Labour’s Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham also urged caution, warning in The Times that the proposed reforms could trap people in poverty. He emphasised that under no circumstances should support for disabled individuals unable to work be reduced.
As the government prepares to reveal its plans, tensions within Labour and wider concerns from advocacy groups signal that the proposed welfare changes could face significant resistance.
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