Minister denies misleading voters over benefits cuts – as he’s shown awkward old tweet | Politics News

A minister has denied deceptive Labour voters with a £5bn package deal of profit cuts that was not within the occasion’s manifesto.

Stephen Timms instructed Sky Information Breakfast with Wilfred Frost that Labour pledged to “repair the damaged system” through the election marketing campaign and mentioned it will reform or exchange the work functionality evaluation (WCA).

Politics live: PM defends welfare cuts

Scrapping the WCA was one of a series of measures announced on Tuesday, together with narrowing the factors to qualify for some well being and incapacity advantages.

Labour’s manifesto mentioned: “We imagine the work functionality evaluation is just not working and must be reformed or changed, alongside a correct plan to assist disabled individuals to work.”

Nevertheless, it didn’t explicitly point out cuts.

Requested if Labour had misled individuals, social safety minister Mr Timms mentioned: “No.”

There’s all the time a tweet…

It was put to him that his boss Liz Kendall beforehand tweeted in opposition to profit cuts being thought of by former Tory chancellor George Osborne below his austerity programme.

In 2016, the now work and pensions secretary retweeted a colleague who accused Mr Osborne of introducing the cuts “to offer handouts to the wealthy”, alongside a petition campaigning in opposition to the measure.

Mr Timms mentioned the Tories “made numerous adjustments which did quite a lot of harm”, together with reforms to common credit score which put extra individuals on the upper charge and meant they have been “now not supported into work”.

“We opposed damaging adjustments the earlier authorities made,” he mentioned.

“We’re bringing ahead a package deal which we predict will do the job that is wanted, assist individuals again into work and make the system sustainable financially.”

Learn extra:
All Labour’s welfare reforms explained

What measures have been introduced?

Probably the most important measure introduced yesterday was making it more durable to qualify for private independence funds (PIP), which is cash for individuals who have further care or mobility wants because of a incapacity.

The brand new PIP check will go on to interchange the WCA, which presently decides whether or not persons are match to work or not. There will even be a session on delaying entry to the well being top-up on common credit score till somebody is 22.

The announcement was met with criticism from Labour backbenchers, unions and charities, who known as for the cuts to be reversed and warned it will push extra sick and disabled individuals into poverty.

Nevertheless, it’s unclear how many individuals may lose advantages consequently because the influence evaluation won’t be launched till the spring statement next week.

Reforms ‘rushed by way of’

The spring assertion will see Chancellor Rachel Reeves make additional spending cuts to account for the lack of round £9bn in fiscal headroom because of a poor financial system and world instability.

The federal government has denied that is the explanation for the welfare package deal, with Ms Kendall telling Sky Information’ political editor Beth Rigby she would have introduced these measures regardless – as she refused to rule out further cuts.

However Tory shadow chancellor Mel Stride instructed Sky Information the reforms have been “rushed” by way of as a result of Ms Reeves “killed the financial system” together with her October price range.

“That does not make for good coverage, notably within the space of welfare the place you do have to take your time and to be considerate about it,” he added.

PM: Advantages invoice ‘devastating’

Sir Keir Starmer has defended the measures, writing in The Occasions that the two.8 million working age individuals out of labor because of long-term illness is a “damning indictment of the Conservative report” on welfare.

He added: “The result’s devastating for the general public funds. By 2030 we’re projected to spend £70bn a 12 months on working-age incapacity and incapacity advantages alone.”