British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has reduced his planned welfare cuts. The move comes after over 100 Labour MPs opposed the original proposal. The reforms aimed to cut £5 billion ($6.9 billion) a year from the growing welfare budget.
Reform Plans Changed
Many lawmakers feared that the cuts would hurt disabled people and those with chronic illnesses. To calm the backlash, Starmer announced changes. Now, only new applicants will face stricter rules. Current recipients will keep their existing benefits.
“We have listened to MPs who support reform but worry about the pace of change,” said Starmer’s spokesperson. Parliament will vote on the revised bill on July 1.
Mixed Reactions
Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Minister, said the goal remains the same. The government still wants a system that helps the most vulnerable and stays financially sustainable.
Labour MP Meg Hillier supported the change. She called it “a good and workable compromise.” But not all MPs were satisfied. Peter Lamb, another Labour MP, said he would vote against the bill. “To me, it’s not enough,” he said.
Political Fallout
The Conservative Party criticised the reversal. Helen Whately called it “a missed opportunity” and said taxpayers would suffer. “Starmer ducked the challenge,” she posted on X.
The government wants to reduce spending on welfare. Officials say it will help control public finances and encourage more people to work.
Right now, the UK spends more on disability and incapacity benefits than on defence. That number is expected to pass £100 billion by 2030. It currently stands at £65 billion.
A Core Labour Issue
The debate strikes at the heart of Labour’s values. The party has long supported the welfare state. It helped create the NHS after World War Two. Many Labour MPs found it difficult to support cuts that affect vulnerable citizens.
Even after the changes, tensions remain. Some MPs still feel the reforms go too far. Others worry the changes do not go far enough to save money.
What Comes Next?
The final cost of the revised policy is not yet public. Stephen Kinnock, the Care Minister, said the figures will appear in the autumn budget.
All eyes now turn to Parliament. The July 1 vote will show whether Starmer can hold his party together while delivering reform.
