Minister struggles to reduce MP’s concerns over profit cuts
On the Prime Minister’s questions, Sir Kir Star announced that welfare reform was a “moral issue”, while veteran left MP MP Dyne Abbott argued that “nothing was moral about cutting the benefits of millions”.
Their divisions were very publicly clear.
But most of the MPs who had concerns expressed them behind the closed doors.
Around 100 MPs participated in a briefing by work and pension secretary Liz Kendall and Minister Sir Stephen Tims.
The BBC has approached some people who were concerned about new sanctions for personal freedom payment (PIPs), and Wednesday’s meeting has not neutralized their opposition.
An MP said that it raised more questions from the answer.
And some felt that there were cuts before other labor policies that could help people in work – the NHS came from cutting the waiting list to increasing the economy – to flourish.
Kendal also addressed a virtual meeting of Labor’s ruling National Executive Committee and its National Policy Forum, which was arranged on a short notice.
There was little discussion of morality in this meeting.
While most of the attendees were sympathetic to the need to fix the welfare system, the attendees were more focused on how, politically, reforms could be sold at the door.
Some leftist and representatives of the union complained that they were not allowed to contribute despite indicating that they wanted to question the work and pension secretary.
One of the attendees told the BBC: “This meeting was clearly called to reduce our concerns – it definitely did not do so.”
Laws and votes will be required in Parliament to change PIPs for people with disabilities.
There is no doubt that with a large majority, improvements will pass – but the task of preventing a rebellion in labor ranks clearly requires more work.
The conservatives have not decided whether to vote with the government on changes.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davi has accused the government of “lightening fear and anxiety” due to failing to provide sufficient expansion about its welfare reforms.
