Keir Starmer was accused of lacking the ‘backbone’ to tackle soaring benefits today amid claims there will be no plans for curbs in the King’s Speech.
No10 is said to have told the Department for Work and Pensions there will be no space in the legislation package – expected in May.
The decision avoids another showdown with restive Labour MPs, but pours cold water on hopes of reforms being in place before the next general election.
A source close to Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden insisted reforms are still happening in this Parliament, and legislation will be brought forward as soon as possible.
But the manoeuvring underlines increasing anxiety within Downing Street about Sir Keir’s position, amid dire polls and jockeying by rivals.
Keir Starmerwas accused of lacking the ‘backbone’ to tackle soaring benefits today amid claims there will be no plans for curbs in the King’s Speech
Two major welfare reviews have been launched by the government, and are expected to report later in the year.
Labour Veteran Stephen Timms has been looking at Personal Independence Payment (PIP) since efforts to make £5billion of savings were thwarted by a huge Labour rebellion last year.
The government’s work tsar Alan Milburn is investigating tweaks to benefits to cut the number of young people not in employment, education or training – so-called NEETs.
According to the Times, proposals for an ‘unemployment insurance’, which would have meant higher benefits for those who had worked consistently, have been shelved.
One minister told the paper: ‘Welfare reform is going to be very difficult with the back benches, and the closer you get to a general election the less you want to do the difficult stuff…
‘Largely, the public wants to see welfare reform, and we do need to show delivery on that. This is not showing that reform is a priority.’
A source close to Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden insisted reforms are still happening in this Parliament
A Government spokeswoman said: ‘Final decisions on the contents of the King’s Speech have not been made.
‘We’re already fixing the broken welfare system we inherited so we get Britain working, including through reforms to Motability and Universal Credit, as well as the launch of the Youth Guarantee.
‘We have commissioned Alan Millburn to look at how we can tackle the number of young people out of work and will set out further legislative plans in due course.’
Tory frontbencher Ric Holden said it was a ‘catastrophic decision for Britain’, and warned that other parties lacked the ‘plan and the backbone to grip welfare’.
‘The Labour, Lib Dems, Green, Reform UK welfare uniparty are all to weak to take the difficult but correct decisions,’ he said.
‘All have surrendered to increasing welfare, including ending the two child benefit cap.’
