Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has reaffirmed his commitment to pushing through major welfare reforms aimed at reducing the benefits bill, despite growing opposition from

within his own party.

A vote is expected in the coming weeks on a proposed Welfare Reform Bill designed to slash £5 billion from the welfare budget by 2030. Key among the changes is a tightening of eligibility criteria for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for people with less severe disabilities in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Speaking to journalists, Starmer said:

"We have got to get the reforms through, and I have been clear about that from start to finish. The system is not working. It's not working for those that need support, it's not working for taxpayers. Everybody agrees it needs reform, we have got to reform it and that is what we intend to do."

In response to mounting concern among Labour backbenchers, ministers recently introduced a transition period to cushion the impact for claimants whose benefits may be withdrawn.

Nevertheless, significant resistance remains. Dozens of Labour MPs have raised alarm over cuts to PIP and changes to the sickness-related component of Universal Credit, with many threatening to oppose the legislation outright.

According to the government’s own impact assessment, the reform package could push an estimated 250,000 more people — including 50,000 children — into relative poverty. Photo by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street, Wikimedia commons.