Today, as government borrowing costs remain punishingly high, panicked Chancellor Rachel Reeves will try to reassure the markets that the government is growing the economy and cutting the benefits bill.

We'll update this page with any information about benefits changes as soon as we get it.

Reeves is speaking now, she says:

"We will deliver fundamental reform of our welfare system.  That includes looking at areas that have been ducked for too long, like the rising cost of health and disability benefits. And the secretary of state for work and pensions will set out our plans to address this ahead of the Spring statement."

Will there be more?

No, it seems there won't. 

However, there are motions by both Rachel Reeves and Liz Kendall on the welfare cap this afternoon.  Reeves  told the Sun on Sunday that she will “expose how the Conservatives lost complete control of the benefits bill – with a project overspend of more than £8 billion”.

So, there may be more on benefits to come.  We'll keep this page open for the rest of the day, just in case.

Alison McGovern minister for unemployment is standing in for Rachel Reeves and Liz Kendall. 

She says she is never disappointed in her work coaches, the thing that lets them down is the system they work within.

It's on Parliament TV from 16.14 at this link:

https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/e4026aea-0691-4880-8957-3db8c8d0825f

 McGovern explains that the Conservatives have breached the welfare spending cap by £8 billion.

She appears to be claiming that the move from ESA to UC is the cause of much of the rise in benefits spending, because of the hard separation between the level of benefit for those capable of work and those with LCWRA.

She also says that you cannot have a functioning social security system if the health service is not functioning.  For example being told you can only see someone for 10 minutes, having to do numerous admin checks that could be done with modern technology.

We are hearing a great deal about getting people into work, but nothing about changes to the WCA and PIP. Instead, McGovern refers once again to the Green Paper to be published in the Spring, even though Rachel Reeves has said "we’re setting out our detailed plans before Easter".

She confirms that Labour will keep the welfare cap, which is intended to limit the amount that is spent overall on social security.

 It's notable that the house is almost empty.  Jeremy Corbyn has asked questions of the minister.

She moves onto fraud.

And that seems to be it.

There's a link to the written statements by Liz Kendall here

 

 

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Why was the house notable empty, any guesses ?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    'Did she say anything as I can't see what she has said anywhere.'
    @axab43. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Stop all employment benefits, close down all job centers etc. and just give everyone (with savings less than the average annual salary) a basic income to be able to live simply in a council home with enough to cover food & energy paid for with money from the savings made above and progressive taxation.

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 3 hours ago
      @Paul That should be emailed to all media outlets and the clever ones.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 4 hours ago
      @Paul 100%…if the will was there they would figure out the way.
      They thrive on division though.
      What strikes me is how they have successfully fooled the working people that they are somehow different…wake up ppl…they are taking away your safety net, because some of you will find yourself ill, or have an accident. Especially when we are flogged to seventy before pension age.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 16 hours ago
      @Paul They would then get growth rather than stagnation. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    She appears to be claiming that the move from ESA to UC is the cause of much of the rise in benefits spending, because of the hard separation between the level of benefit for those capable of work and those with LCWRA.


    Here we go again.
    Just like the Tories tried previously, Labour are going to attempt to change get those in LCWRA to engage more with the Work Coach.
    They are using nebulous tricks now, trying to get us in the Job Centre, during migration transfer process for an interview then quizing if we're able to do some type of work.

    Remember they go on courses to do this devious deception.

    Try and counteract this by,for example, asking for telephone interview under reasonable adjustments etc 
    And, if possible,have someone with you.
    Try to record the call too.



    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 10 hours ago
      @Michael Glad it went well for you, Michael. Hope the transition for the rest of us is equally seamless.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 hours ago
      @Harry This is not the case, not from my personal experience. When I migrated 2 weeks ago, I visited the job center with my identification, she covered how to use the system and it already showed her I was in the support group on ESA so would be placed in the support group in UC. She said I would receive the occasional phone call to ensure my well being is OK but otherwise I didn't need to do anything.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Harry Labour basically copy catting the tories.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Harry Just like the Tories tried previously, Labour are going to attempt to get those in LCWRA to engage more with the Work Coach.

      Please disregard the word 'change'


  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    The only statement I want to hear from Rachel Thieves is I quit. I'm sorry, I have totally fk'd up the country's economy and made life harder for everyone bar the very rich.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    What rubbish was that? It wasn’t moving to Uc. It was having an extra payment for those who couldn’t work in the first place. Thank goodness because who can survive on job seekers for decades at a time? It’s not meant to be low for that long. 

    People who would got ESA actually cost less when they got UC instead because premiums didn’t exist. Sadly I don’t think it will save us. Expecting a letter to migrate any day 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Emily They seem to be setting the stage to severely limit who can be placed in the LCWRA group. I wonder had the Tories not panicked and sped up the margination plans, costing the DWP more money in the process, if Labour would've found it that be hard to justify harsh cuts.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    So that's it all that hype about today's announcements and nothing new said these people in power should be made to look themselves in the mirror....how many of us are living in hell with this ongoing situation!  How much will this cost the country.... this chronic unnecessary strain on the sick and disabled community. If only this cost could be calculated!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Good old Jeremy Corbyn. They really destroyed him trying to get Keir Starmer in. Only Corbyn and John McDonnell seem to care about us.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 13 hours ago
      @Minxy
      You're wrong. 12 million people voted for him in 2019.

      Only 9 million votes for Starmer in 2024.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @CarolK I am sorry but those two are both awful.  Would they have supported us ☹️. JC would have taken us back to the 30s depression.   This is exactly why no one voted for him.  
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @CarolK I agree CarolK.  Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell are two of the good ones!!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    So they've basically brought forward nothing? Reeves was full of hot air the other day making out they were announcing the reforms early, then today we hear they're not doing it until Spring like originally announced. And Reeves hasn't even bothered turning up!
    What was the point of that? 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Jimsnotdead It seems they, for now, have satisfied the markets with their plans for building projects such as Heathrow airport's third runway. I'm sure we didn't get more on benefits, as Labour will be busy taking legal advice on how to move forward with their plans - they won't want to leave themselves open to lengthy legal challenges.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    The thing to watch is Tory / Labour Ministers finding it hard to keep a straight face as they accuse each other of stealing one another's policies. It's poop but not for the reasons you might think. It's because most of policies come from committees. Which they or their colleagues have sat on and agreed amongst themselves years ago. Not just labour or the tories. They're made up of different parties / independents. And sure they have great big bust ups amongst themselves but they all sign off on the report.      
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    A big point is had the Tories kept to the 2028-29 mingarion of ESA, the benefit cap (that's the amount the DWP spends on benefits) wouldn't have been breached. It's as if the Tories poisoned the well for the new government. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Rik that's exactly what they did. look at everything the torys did. nhs, schools, rails, and the social security system.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Alison McGovern has just claimed that that the move from ESA to UC is the cause of much of the rise in benefits spending, because of the hard separation between the level of benefit for those capable of work and those with LCWRA.

    If that is Government thinking could the ESA to UC migration be kicked into the long grass again?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Jonno LCWRA payments existed well before UC was even invented. She makes it sound like people sudden queuing up to get a sick
      Note. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Jonno No. I read that as they plan to severely limit who can be placed in the LCWRA group.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    McGovern confirms the benefit cap stays and that massive changes to "health and disability" is to come with their Green Paper.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    PIP is NOT an unemployment benefit. How many times does that need to be said? There are employed disabled people who are on PIP.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Dave Dee what doesn't help with pip cost increase is that pensioners get it if their condition doesn't change, so more disabled pensioners with an ageing population with stable disabling conditions will push the pip bill up even further. hit pensionable age and you used to be moved to AA if disabled before that date and claiming dla, no longer, pip stays in place. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Dave Dee That’s a good point actually.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    I think we need to see the bigger picture here.
    Immediately after WW2 a Labour Government created the welfare state, the NHS, Proper Unemployment and sickness benefits, even free spectacles, dentistry, free access to Dr's and medicines. They massively improved life for everyone in Britain. 
    All of this was created when Britain was flat broke after the war.
    Britain had industry, and to house the workers Councils built millions of Council Houses. The rents were cheap and the quality of the houses was good.
    Politically, there was more unity between the parties. Neither party wanted to go back to the dark days of the 1930's. Britain had helped to defeat German Fascism. There was pretty full employment. There was some sense of international order.

    Leap forward to today. The world is in chaos. Openly fascist parties dominate in many European countries.
    In the US we have Trump and the Nazi saluting Elon Musk. In Germany the Neo Nazi AFD is set to join the government in February. France teeters on the edge of being run by a far right party. 

    And at home we have witnessed massive riots and our own Fascist demonstrations. They blame immigrants and "benefits cheats" for our poor housing, poor jobs, a failing NHS and failing benefits system.
    Let's be clear. There is only one part of the state that is failing - the part ordinary people need. Everything else is fine. The MP's, The House of Lords, The Judges, The Royal Family, They are fine. As are the companies that have used technology to get rid of their workforce.

    Why do employers who replace workers with robots not pay tax and national insurance for those robots at the same level as those who formerly did those jobs? That would solve the funding problems for the NHS and the rest of the welfare state.

    People are so fed up they can't even be bothered to vote. The Labour party only won because the Tories were hopeless and Nigel Farage (who wants to cut benefits more than the Tories) decided to move Clacton on Sea to Washington. Labour only got just over 33% of the vote. But it was enough. And now what do have. What about Starmer's promises of "Change" and all the echoes of the Labour Government of 1945? He needed those free glasses. It hasn't made him any less short sighted.

    Forget it. The only change will be stepping up the war on the poor. Big business will be protected. The members of parliament, the judiciary and the house of Lords will continue to draw massive salaries. They will continue to do this because we let them get away with it. 
    Our climate is changing. There are wars everywhere. And we are paying for those wars. Every benefit payment that we don't receive, every cut to the welfare state, every removal of a means of redress (the withdrawal of legal aid for most benefit disputes) helps to buy more bombs, more robots and more effective ways to screw us over.

    Let's admit it. We're all terrified. Terrified of war, terrified that we can't pay the rent, terrified that we will become destitute, terrified that we'll freeze to death, terrified that we won't have enough food to feed the kids, terrified that we'll be beaten up because our skin is the wrong colour. Terrified that this treacherous government will pull the rug out from underneath us. And if we don't fight back, if we simply remain terrified, then all of the things I've just mentioned will happen.

    It's about time we said "No!". All we want is a fair society, the society we once had after 1945.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Alex I bet Blair made more.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Wat Tyler Correct but in those days our population was minus 40 million than we have today.

      Creating the chaos our nation finds itself in today.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @David But how do we say “No” and it be enough?
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Wat Tyler Indeed so. Thank you for this. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Wat Tyler Yes, big business own our politicians these days.  David Cameron made £10 million the year after he left office.  He was clearly bought and paid for. 

      It's sickening, the real problem is inequality, and they are totally ignoring that.  But they do love to keep the perpetual myth going that we can all become rich if we just "work hard".

      Musk - son to owners of a diamond mine. 

      Bezos - received a small startup loan of $300,000 from his parents. 

      Gates - his mother got him a contract with IBM due to her connections. 

      I could go on.  These people all come from money, and their rags to riches story is BS. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Alison McGovern  (DWP Minister)now speaking about the Welfare  Cap. It's on the  Freeview Parliament  channel #232.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    It's disgusting that they are targeting the old and disabled just to try and  balance books I remember when Labour was the workings man party and they defended the old n disabled against this sort of thing and they blaming it on Tories yet when Labour was last in power they done the same thing it's just a game to politicians but real people suffer if things that bad just print more money to cover it 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @Bob m Unfortunately it’s not that simple just to print more money as I’m sure you’re aware things don’t quite work that way .what we really do need to do is to stop all the corruption that is within government .government Needs to stop wasting so much of our money as they do every single day, it is the biggest culprit in the country of wastage I remember when politicians were for the people and for the country as a whole it seems to me the only reason they become politicians today is to line their own pockets and sod the people and sod the country it’s so sad that we’ve got ourselves in to this awful mess once upon a time it was called Great Britain for a reason. Sadly the great in Great Britain disappeared a long time ago and there is no one in government today that gives a dam 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Apologies I think I have put little flags on comments as I was scrolling through reading them. So sorry 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @WorkshyLayabout Some of my comment did not make it. AGAIN! 

      If you click on the flag, there is a box to report the comment. The comment will only be reported if you type a comment and hit the report button. Just selecting flags does nothing. You can easily unselect them.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 days ago
      @RacheyRoo There is no harm done.  
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    And why do they bang on about people out of work? PIP is where the biggest spending is and that's nothing to do with in or out of work. It's for the extra costs of being disabled. More people have needed to claim it since the appalling decimation of the NHS and people waiting far too long for treatment, ops etc. It's all kowtowing to the baying RW press etc
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 days ago
    Liz Kendall written statement is up on parliament site. I'm not sure if you can post links but I try to tag it on to the end of this post.  I don't think there anything triggering in it but it does show the duel narratives they're running. Good cop / bad cop. And it's unforgivable. Just remember the saying about the broader the smile the sharper the knife. For a party that spent most of the last parliament going on about how words matter they are showing themselves to be completely tone deaf and proving political hypocrisy  I always know how bad things are getting by the change in the type of questions my psychiatrist asks. It gives you a strong hint about the increase bin the number of beds are being taken up by people in crisis. Sometimes they make a point of telling you when all the beds are taken. And when there's a spike in suicides. Sure enough, a quick on line search and yep there's the figures / flags... 

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