Warning over DWP change which is 'worse than anything under the Tories'

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is facing intense backlash over proposed benefit changes that critics say are even more severe than those implemented by previous Conservative governments. The Labour government is seeking to cut £5 billion from welfare spending, specifically targeting Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit.

Andy Mitchell, a disability rights campaigner and member of Unite Community, voiced strong opposition to the changes. “As a community we feel totally let down, and these last-minute concessions do nothing to make up for that,” he said. Mitchell also noted the widespread fear among disabled people, adding that some of his friends have even spoken about suicide due to the stress and uncertainty. “This is worse than anything that happened under the Tories,” he said.

The controversy follows the resignation of Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft from her frontbench role in protest against the welfare reforms. Foxcroft criticized the government’s handling of the bill, saying that Labour leader Keir Starmer’s recent concessions did not go far enough to earn her support. “I would hope that actually we start to ensure we listen to disabled people and their organisations right across government. This isn’t just about warm words. This is about making sure we get policy right,” she told The Guardian.

Foxcroft urged the government to pause the legislation to properly consult with the disability community and design a fairer system. “Right now, we’re kind of tinkering in terms of things to make it the least worst situation we can, and we need to learn lessons from that and make sure that we get these things right going forward,” she added.

Over the weekend, Prime Minister Keir Starmer admitted that the government mishandled the issue and did not act swiftly enough to address concerns. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Starmer said, “I’d have liked to get to a better position with colleagues sooner than we did. I’m putting this as context rather than an excuse.” He explained that his attention had been focused on pressing international matters, including NATO and the Middle East, and that he only fully turned his attention to the welfare issue after returning from the G7 summit and attending a Cobra meeting.

Despite the turmoil, Health Secretary Wes Streeting expressed confidence that the government would win the upcoming vote on the welfare bill. Speaking on Sky News’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips, Streeting said the amendments made to the proposal had significantly improved the situation. “As a result of the changes, it means anyone watching this morning who’s in receipt of personal independence payments now has the peace of mind of knowing that their situation is protected,” he stated.

The government now faces a critical moment as it attempts to reassure both its own MPs and the public that the revised welfare policies are fair and will not harm vulnerable citizens.