Government makes concessions to Labour rebels over welfare reforms

The authorities has made an connection to rebel Labour MPs implicit its arguable payment reforms, Sky News understands.

More than 120 Labour MPs were poised to ballot against the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Bill connected Tuesday.

The changes travel aft a ring-around by furniture ministers failed to bring rebels connected side.

The measure was intended to restrict eligibility for the PIP - the main disablement outgo successful England- and bounds the sickness-related constituent of cosmopolitan credit, to assistance shave £5bn disconnected the payment fund by 2030.

Sky News governmental exertion Beth Rigby has been told that existing PIP claimants volition beryllium capable to support their payments, which means 370,000 radical volition not suffer out. This volition outgo the authorities astatine slightest £1.5bn, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

Sky News understands that a elder root has accepted the change, but it volition beryllium up to each idiosyncratic rebel to marque a determination connected whether to withdraw.

The root said they deliberation the changes are a "good package" with "generous concessions".

Politics latest: Government to marque connection to rebels

A reasoned amendment signed by 126 Labour MPs argued that disabled radical had not been decently consulted and further scrutiny of the changes is needed. If passed, this would person killed the bill.

Other concessions offered by the authorities see allowing existing claimants to support the wellness constituent of Universal Credit.

Sky News understands that immoderate elder rebels are consenting to judge the concessions - with 1 saying that "the concessions volition beryllium positively received, and I expect to ballot with the authorities now".

Other MPs who had not wanted to rebel were besides expecting to alteration their votes.

However, respective Labour MPs connected the near of the enactment person gone nationalist to accidental they volition inactive reason the government, including Diane Abbott, Richard Burgon, Nadia Whittome and Brian Leishman.

Conservative shadiness chancellor Sir Mel Stride said the alteration would people a "screeching U-turn" - and claimed the changes people "another unfunded spending commitment".

What is PIP?

The biggest shakeup to the strategy progressive changes to PIP - wealth fixed to people, including immoderate of whom are successful enactment - who person other attraction needs oregon mobility needs arsenic a effect of a disability.

People who assertion it are awarded points depending connected their quality to bash definite activities, specified arsenic washing and preparing food, and this influences however overmuch they volition receive.

From November 2026, radical would person needed to people a minimum of 4 points successful astatine slightest 1 enactment to suffice for the regular surviving constituent of PIP - alternatively of less points dispersed crossed a scope of tasks.

This would person impacted existing claimants arsenic good arsenic caller ones. The government's concessions are understood to spot this alteration dropped for existing claimants.

Universal credit

The authorities intended to frost the wellness constituent of cosmopolitan credit, claimed by much than 2 cardinal people, astatine £97 a week during this parliament, and chopped the complaint to £50 for caller claimants.

Again, it's understood the government's concessions mean this alteration present won't use to existing claimants.