UK Welfare Bill: Starmer under pressure as Burnham calls the planned reductions “unfair”
Pressure has begun to mount on Sir Keir Starmer as he suddenly moves to win support of dozens of Labour MPs opposing welfare reforms.
The United Kingdom prime minister is faced with possibility of about 50 Labour MPs opposed to his welfare reductions in a crucial vote scheduled to be held on Tuesday, despite offering concessions on the legislation a few days ago.
The last Labour figure to air his distaste at the new legislation is Andy Burnham as the Mayor of Greater Manchester described the planned reductions as “unfair” at a gathering event at Glastonbury on Sunday.
He said: “What’s been announced is half a U-turn, a 50 per cent U-turn. In my view I’d hope that MPs vote against the whole Bill when it comes before Parliament.”
The genuine welfare bill proposed to usher a higher bar for eligibility for the Personal Independent Payment (Pip), and reduce the health-related element of global credit.
UK Welfare Bill: Starmer Under Pressure
However, after more than 100 Labour MPs proposed that these changes should be dropped, the government said its proposed legislations will now only take effects to new claims from November 2026.
It Is a ‘Pathetic Damp Squib’ ─ Shadow Minister
In the reaction of the Tory shadow work and pensions minister, he describes Labour’s welfare bill as “pathetic” following government concessions.
Danny Kruger also stated that the measure are now a “damp squib” after the Sir Starmer made a U-turn amid a stiff Labour oppositions.
“We would like to vote for benefit reform, we really need it, we have an unsustainable rise, particularly in disability benefits… the Government isn’t bringing forward reform,” he told Sky News.
“They were bringing forward some limited cuts which we thought were pretty crude but we were prepared to support them if there was genuine reform alongside.
“Now they have just abandoned most of those cuts so we will see what they come up with today, we are getting more detail, the debates tomorrow, we will make our mind up about how we vote.
“But what we really do insist on, they have had 14 years to get ready for government, they have had a year in office, and now at the end of that they have got this pathetic damp squib of a Bill that achieves absolutely nothing.”
Concessions On The Bill To The Declared
While work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall moves to reel out the government’s adjustment to the bill on Monday (Today), UK prime minister was reported to be moved to accede to oppositions’ demand.
UK Welfare Bill: Starmer Under Pressure
Labout whips are reportedly urging potential rebels to be still and wait for the outcome of a review into Personal Independence Payments (Pip), spearheaded by disability minister Sir Stephen Timms, before their rebellion against the government.
Wes Streeting, Health Secretary, on Sunday, disclosed that further adjustments on the bill could be made. “There is a review on Pip and we’ve got to listen,” he said during the BBC’s Sunday programme with Laura Kuenssberg.
Welfare Reduction Could Render Disabled Women Trapped ─ Campaigners
Reacting to the development, Domestic Violence Charity Refuge and Women’s Budget G (WBG) have a starkly warned the UK government of the welfare reforms, stating that in the long term, the reduction will render the well-being of the disabled difficult and unable to flee abusive relationships.
In their analyses as published on various online news outlets, show that women who are future claimant can be affected by stricter eligibility criteria for PIP
Presently, 52 per cent of female PIP claimants do not score up to four points in any activity compared to their male counterparts. This might be due to the higher emergence of musculoskeletal conditions and arthritis prevalent among women, condition which might score four points in an indicator.
UK Welfare Bill: Starmer Under Pressure
Vote Against ‘Unfair’ Bill ─ Burnham Implores MPs
The Mayor of Great Manchester Andy Burnham has mounted more pressure on UK government as he implores MPs to vote against the welfare bill.
Andy Burnham described the planned reduction as “unfair” as a gathering event at Glastonbury on Sunday.
“What’s been announced is half a U-turn, a 50 per cent U-turn. In my view I’d hope that MPs vote against the whole Bill when it comes before Parliament,” he said.
No Brainer To Discuss Punishment For Welfare Oppositions ─ Minister
It is not “constructive” to discuss punishment for the MPs who oppose the new government’s welfare reforms, a minister has hinted, as the UK government looks to garner support.
UK Welfare Bill: Starmer Under Pressure
Minister are moving to reel out the concessions they are about to make today, Monday, 30th June, 2025, hoping that the climbdown will just be adequate for them to garner backbench votes this week.
Baroness Jacqui Smith, a chief whip under Sir Tony Blair, when asked what punishment awaits the Labour MPs who oppose the Government on welfare reform, she said: “I don’t think talking about punishments, even as a former chief whip, is the constructive way forward here.”
Bob Vylan Comments Are Modest ─ Pro-Palestine Campaigner
The director of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has backed Bob Vylan’s “death to the IDF” chant was an “appropriate” reaction to Israel’s military operation in Gaza.
Ben Jamal seconded the view by saying that the comments are in sync with “every reputable human rights organisation in the world”.
In an interview with Times Radio, he said: “Legal experts accept [the IDF] is committing a genocide.
“What’s the appropriate attitude? What’s the opposite of hate? Should we tolerate it? Should we think what they’re doing is Should we tolerate it?
Should we think what they’re doing is reasonable? Should we be equivocal about it?
“You and I know if what he’d done is got up on stage and said death to the Russian military forces, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
PM Might Face Further Crises If Bill Oppositions Get A Taste Of Blood
Sir Keir Starmer does not only face welfare reform crisis. In the coming months, his government will come under heavy pressure to outlaw the two-child benefit limit.
It might also be in fight with its own backbenchers over the heightening costs of financing children with special educational needs.
UK Welfare Bill: Starmer Under Pressure
However, the ministers have said they will look to change the system, it is a must the some winners and some losers emerge.
Sir Starmer should be hoping that in the wake of his welfare policy U-turn, the rebellious Labour MPs do not get the taste of blood.
Labour MP Still Moving To Welfare Reform
According to Labour MP, he stated that he is totally against the welfare bill even following the adjustment made to it by the government in the face of opposition.
The MP for Eltham and Chislehurst, Clive Efford, was one of the over 100 Labour MPs set to oppose the Government’s proposed changes to the welfare system.
“There are still £3.5 billion-worth of savings that are required in these measures and we don’t yet know the poverty impact that they will have,” he told the Today Programme on BBC Radio 4.
“I think there are a lot of people waiting to hear what the government is saying today who may be inclined to accept what the government has done.
“For me the situation hasn’t changed for those people who will be adversely affected and until we know and understand the impact on them, we shouldn’t be taking what I think is a leap in the dark.”
UK Welfare Bill: Starmer Under Pressure
