150,000 to be pushed into poverty - as govt reveals new measures to try to win over rebels

An other 150,000 radical volition inactive beryllium pushed into poorness contempt the authorities making important concessions connected its plans to chopped welfare, according to its ain analysis.

The authorities document, published today, reflects its determination to h2o down immoderate of the much terrible changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) and the wellness top-up for cosmopolitan credit.

Politics latest: Palestine Action appealing against proscription

It states that an estimated 150,000 radical volition present beryllium pushed into poorness aft lodging costs if the caller payment cuts travel into effect - down from 250,000 nether the government's archetypal plans.

Under the archetypal reforms, the eligibility criteria for PIP would person been tightened for some caller and existing claimants.

Ministers besides intended to frost the wellness top-up of Universal Credit astatine £97 a week during this parliament.

However, successful the look of a ample rebellion by Labour MPs, the authorities changed the proposals for PIP to apply to caller claimants lone from November 2026.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall besides announced connected Monday the combined worth of Universal Credit volition beryllium successful enactment with inflation, which she said volition guarantee nary existing claimants volition beryllium pushed into poorness arsenic a result.

There volition besides beryllium an further £300m for employment enactment for sick and disabled radical this twelvemonth and £600m adjacent year, to summation full spending to £2.8bn this year.

A consultation into PIP volition instrumentality spot and volition beryllium "co-produced" with disabled radical to beryllium published successful autumn 2026, Ms Kendall said.

All existent recipients of the wellness constituent of Universal Credit volition besides present person their incomes protected successful existent terms, arsenic volition immoderate caller applicants who conscionable the "severe conditions criteria".

Ms Kendall said changes to the government's payment reforms volition outgo "around £2.5 cardinal successful 2029/30".

The authorities volition anticipation that the changes volition beryllium capable to transportation Labour MPs to ballot for the caller bundle of reforms erstwhile they are put to a ballot connected Tuesday.

Conservative person Kemi Badenoch confirmed her MPs volition ballot against the reforms connected Tuesday.

The caller appraisal besides states the interaction connected the fig of pensioners and children successful poorness is "expected to beryllium negligible" aft the archetypal investigation said 50,000 children would beryllium successful comparative poorness by the extremity of the decade.

The caller modelling does not instrumentality relationship of other wealth the authorities is putting successful to enactment radical with disabilities and semipermanent wellness conditions into work.

Before the authorities announced its changes, 127 Labour MPs signalled publically that they would beryllium consenting to ballot down the payment measure successful its entirety by signing an amendment that would person stopped its advancement done parliament.

It has been reported that the fig of Labour rebels present stands astatine astir 50 pursuing the concessions.

Nadia Whittome, the Labour MP for Nottingham East, indicated she would inactive ballot against the measure contempt the concessions.

In a station connected X, she said: "Even with the concessions, the government's ain investigation forecasts that 150,000 radical could inactive beryllium pushed into poorness by disablement payment cuts by the extremity of the decade.

"As Labour MPs, we didn't participate authorities to marque struggling constituents poorer. We indispensable halt this bill."

Read more:
What are the concessions to the payment measure - and volition MPs backmost it?
PM and ministers present admit payment reforms went excessively far

Downing Street said the updated modelling connected the interaction of the government's payment cuts "doesn't bespeak the afloat picture".

A spokesperson said determination was inactive "uncertainty" astir the projections due to the fact that they don't instrumentality into relationship different authorities action, including NHS concern and employment support.

"All our enactment straight helps radical moving to enactment and becoming financially independent," they added.