The concessions, proposed by Mr Starmer last week, were included in the current form of the bill, with the aim of preventing at least 126 MPs from voting against the government.
In the United Kingdom, the Labour government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing internal opposition. On Tuesday evening, July 1, 2025, some Labour MPs in the House of Commons will vote against the government’s lackluster welfare bill.
Although some of the exemptions introduced by Keir Starmer last week have been included in the bill, it appears that even a “reasonable amendment” designed to prevent a vote against by at least 126 MPs is unlikely to pass. A second amendment, supported by at least 39 MPs, will be voted on Tuesday evening.
The key elements of the bill — Universal Credit (UC) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) — have been redefined. They are designed to limit the number of new claims made in the future, with a provision that will not affect disability payments for those already receiving benefits. While the health-related components of UC will not be frozen, current beneficiaries will be subject to inflation-adjusted increases.
The revised bill is expected to reduce the risk of poverty by an estimated 2.5 million people, but the latest economic models suggest that another 1.5 million will be pushed into poverty by 2030. The current amendments will reduce the government’s revenue from £4.8 billion a year to just £2 billion, compared to the original bill.
Labour MP Rebecca Long-Bailey, who opened the debate on the bill’s second reading, said: “While these concessions are welcome, they risk creating a two-tier system where the amount of support will be determined by when applicants claim.”
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch said: “The current welfare system is failing. We are seeing a steady increase in the number of people claiming benefits every day.” However, the Conservative Party said it would not support the bill, saying it was “a drastic step”.
The government said PIP awards had doubled every month since the pandemic, with an average of 1,000 new claimants a day, which is growing at the rate of the population of Leicester every year.
“We need to build a sustainable welfare system that provides security for those who cannot work and adequate support for those who can,” said Liz Kendall, the Work and Pensions Secretary.