Cliff Notes – Fixing welfare a ‘moral imperative’
- Sir Keir Starmer emphasised that reforming the UK’s welfare system is a “moral imperative”, following a government U-turn on proposed cuts to sickness and disability benefits.
- The Prime Minister faced a rebellion within his own party.
- He had to make concessions such as exempting current Personal Independence Payment claimants from stricter criteria.
- Starmer deflecting internal unrest; warning of potential political alliances among Conservatives, Reform UK, and Plaid Cymru ahead of the Senedd elections.
Fixing welfare a ‘moral imperative’, Starmer says, after government U-turn | UK News
Sir Keir Starmer has said fixing the UK’s welfare system is a “moral imperative” after the government’s U-turn.
The prime minister faced a significant rebellion over plans to cut sickness and disability benefits as part of a package he said would shave £5bn off the welfare bill and get more people into work.
The government has since offered concessions ahead of a vote in the Commons on Tuesday, including exempting existing Personal Independence Payment claimants (PIP) from the stricter new criteria, while the universal credit health top-up will only be cut and frozen for new applications.
Speaking at Welsh Labour’s annual conference in Llandudno, North Wales, on Saturday, Sir Keir said: “Everyone agrees that our welfare system is broken, failing people every day.
“Fixing it is a moral imperative, but we need to do it in a Labour way, conference, and we will.”