Keir Starmer has delayed efforts to cut the UK’s soaring benefits bill and is locked in a row with Cabinet colleagues, according to reports. Number 10 has told Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden that he will not be allowed to introduce laws designed to control welfare spending until next year at the earliest, said the Times.
It means there will be no new laws in the King’s Speech in May, when the Government sets out its plans for the year. According to the Times, this means long-awaited plans to cut disability benefits will not be introduced, while measures to get young people off benefits and into work could also be delayed. However, sources insisted changes could still be introduced later in the year.
The Government suspended plans to limit disability benefits last year and instead launched a consultation led by Minister Stephen Timms. However, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden has insisted he is still determined to control welfare spending.
An inquiry into how to cut the number of young people not in education, employment or training, known as NEETS, is also being led by former Labour Minister Alan Milburn. This is likely to recommend some changes to benefits.
The Times reports that Sir Keir has chosen to delay any benefit cuts in order to avoid enraging Labour MPs. One minister told the newspaper: “Clearly, any 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.
“We’ve got to remember that 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.”
However, Downing Street sources insisted it would not make sense to propose legislation before the reviews publish their recommendations.
Downing Street is drawing up plans for the King’s Speech, which will set out the proposed laws to be introduced over the next 12 months. It involves each government department setting out the legislation it hopes to include, with No 10 making the final decision.
A Government spokesperson 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.”
