MPs to vote on welfare bill as Labour unrest continues

Dozens of Labour MPs are still planning to vote against the government’s welfare plans later, despite concessions being made.

In a U-turn last week, the government said stricter eligibility criteria for getting personal independence payment (Pip) would only apply to those claiming after November next year rather than existing claimants.

Ministers have also promised a review into the assessment process in partnership with disability organisations, due to be completed by autumn 2026.

This came after more than 120 Labour MPs had signed an amendment that would have killed legislation to deliver the plans.

The Conservatives have said they will oppose the plans as they are not “serious reforms”.

A different amendment to stop the legislation, supported by disability charities, has been signed by 39 Labour MPs.

Many Labour backbenchers have questioned the rationale for making changes to the qualifying criteria before the review into the assessment process has been finished.

In the Commons on Monday, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall defended the bill, but faced continued questions from Labour MPs over the rollout of the changes.

Separately, Labour Chief Whip Sir Alan Campbell reportedly told a meeting of the parliamentary party on Monday night that they should “act as a team” and government efforts at persuasion are expected to continue up until the vote itself.

The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, told the BBC her party would vote against the measures

“The benefits bill is too high,” she said.

“It was £40bn just before Covid. It is now projected to be a £100bn by 2030. And what Labour is doing is not making any savings at all. It’s just reducing the rate of increase. That’s why we are not supporting it.”

Some MPs have said the reforms will not be as effective as the government hopes.

“I strongly believe that these kind of punitive measures of cutting welfare are not going to have the outcomes that we’ve been told they will,” said Olivia Blake, Labour MP for Sheffield Hallam, who is disabled and opposes the reforms.

“I think it will just be about saving money but will actually move spending into areas such as housing services, the NHS and social care,” she told BBC Newsnight.

Blake added that some MPs were still considering their vote, saying the rebellion would be “more significant than maybe people realise”.

Modelling published by Department for Work and Pensions suggested around 150,000 people might be pushed into poverty by 2030 because of the welfare cuts – lower than the original 250,000 figure estimated before the government made the concessions.

Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms, who will conduct the review, told BBC Newsnight the net effect of the government’s policies would reduce poverty – including the measures to help people into work.

He also stressed the need to make Pip sustainable in the future.

The Liberal Democrats have called for proposals to be suspended so they can be further looked at.

The government had hoped to save £5bn a year by 2030 before the concessions were made.