Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has defended the Government’s Benefits Bill, telling GB News that it will “guarantee support for the people who need it most”.
Speaking about the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill that will be voted on this evening, Reynolds acknowledged the difficulty of welfare reform, noting it was “why the Conservative Party didn’t touch it”.
He told GB News: “I thought this Government would be a Government that deals with issues that have been neglected for years, whether that’s expanding Heathrow, or improving our trade relationship, or tackling issues like this, this is exactly what I think this Government needs to do.
“I understand it is difficult. It’s a difficult area, this welfare reform. It’s why the Conservative Party didn’t touch it. But I would say back to them, they saw spending on PIP, just one benefit, double from £11 billion a year to £22 billion a year.
Jonathan Reynolds defended the bill that will be voted on today
GB NEWS
“It’s going to hit £30 billion a year by the end of this Parliament and it’s a system no one loves. I want a system that sees that money go to the people who need it the most.
“At the minute, the number of claims coming in, it’s about 1,000 claims a day, additional people come on to PIP at the minute, I think we genuinely risk losing public support for that.
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“What we’ve got before us today, partly as a result of the engagement we’ve had, is a system which does control some of the costs.
“I think that’s important, but it also makes sure it’s a better system, and it gives support to people who need it the most, for instance, people with the most significant disabilities, who will not ever sort of get better.
“They won’t be reassessed under this. They’ll lose the stress of that and we’ll be not wasting money doing that, but we will make sure that support is going to people who need it the most. I think that’s really important.
“That’s what I want to see from the system. That’s why I asked colleagues to support it today.”
WATCH: Liz Kendall delivers statement on welfare reforms as she admits ‘reforms are never easy’
The Government has announced several concessions to the Bill following pressure from Labour MPs. Despite the concessions, several Labour MPs remain unconvinced.
One of the rebels, Rachael Maskell confirmed she would sign a new amendment aiming to stop the Bill, stating: “There’s no confidence we’re being asked to sign a blank check even with these changes.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the concessions “the worst of all worlds”, while Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately would not confirm how the Tories would vote.
Rachael Maskell confirmed she would sign a new amendment aiming to stop the Bill
PA
Ministers have so far dodged questions about whether Labour MPs who rebel against the welfare reforms will lose the party whip.
Rebel MP Nadia Whittome said she does not believe the Government is likely to take such action.
She told Sky News: “I don’t expect to lose the whip over this. I don’t think they will strip the whip from dozens of MPs.”
MPs will debate the bill in the Commons from lunchtime before a vote is expected at 7pm.