TAMESIDE’S Cabinet members insist changes to the controversial welfare bill are a case of getting it right.
Labour’s Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill was voted through by a majority of 75.
However, 49 MPs voted against the Government and last-minute concessions, particularly around personal independence payment (PIP), were slammed by many as ‘watering down.’
Stalybridge and Hyde’s Jonathan Reynolds, though, is adamant things have to change – and alterations to the proposal are a sign the administration is listening.
The country’s business secretary said: “Few disagree that our current social security system is not fit for purpose.
“One in eight young people are currently not in education, employment or training. We have three million people not in work because of health conditions, and our employment rate has not yet returned to where it was pre-pandemic.
“We are the only country in the world experiencing these problems on this scale, yet spending on PIP alone has doubled in the last five years to £22 billion a year and is set to hit £30 billion a year by the end of this Parliament.
“I know that the process of getting help can feel adversarial, arbitrary and rather than helping people get on, it can trap them on low incomes unable to get work or look to move up in their job due to cliff edges in support.
“We need a system that supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot and puts social security spending on a sustainable footing, so it has wide public support – making the system fit for today and for generations to come.
“I, and my Cabinet colleagues, recognise the concerns with the proposals, particularly around the pace of change and the outdated PIP descriptors.
“This is why changes have been made to the Bill. The Bill shouldn’t be looked at in isolation either.
“Alongside this reform, an unprecedented £1 billion a year in employment support is being introduced for disabled people, transforming job centres into a new national jobs and career service, putting in place a youth guarantee, so all 18-21 year olds have access to employment support, training or an apprenticeship, improving the benefit assessment process and shifting the incentives in the system so they support people into work.
“The Government is listening because we do want to get it right as this Bill progresses through Parliament.
“We must ensure welfare spending happens in a way which protects vulnerable people and gives support where it is needed.”
Across Tameside, Ashton-under-Lyne MP and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner reiterated the belief the process has been about making sure the bill is right.
She joined Mr Reynolds and Gorton and Denton’s Andrew Gwynne in voting for it.
And she said: “Welfare reform is always difficult and I think one of the things I would reflect on, this week in particular, is making sure we get this right.
“I want to reassure people that there will be no changes to their welfare as I know a lot of people have been scared by what is going to happen.”