MPs passed the second reading of Labour's welfare reform bill, with 335 voting for and 260 voting against
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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has declared the Government "is in big trouble" following a series of policy reversals and a significantly weakened disability benefits bill.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's bill passed the second reading, with 335 MPs voting for and 260 voting against, a majority of 75.
The Labour party halved their original savings bill for the welfare reforms, climbing down from £5billion to £2.5billion.
Speaking to GB News, Farage invoked a historical parallel, stating: "I think it's a quote from way back in the 60s when Macmillan's Government was in trouble, 'never glad confident morning again'.
Nigel Farage launched a scathing attack on Keir Starmer and claimed he is causing 'so much damage' to Britain
PA / GB News
"And I think that now applies to Starmer's leadership of the Labour Party and as Prime Minister of our country."
He characterised the administration as lurching from "U-turn after U-turn after U-turn" and described the Prime Minister as "a puppet" following recent admissions about an immigration speech.
Farage explained that Reform UK voted against the legislation "because I won't lift a finger to help a Government that is doing so much damage to our country."
He cited recent Channel crossings as evidence of this damage, stating: "And I say that after 2,000 young men have come across the English Channel in the last two days, many of whom will do us great harm."
The Reform UK leader claimed the Government had diluted its proposals to avoid parliamentary defeat.
"Today, to avoid potentially a massive defeat in the House of Commons, a watering down of a bill that renders it almost meaningless," he said.
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Farage launched a scathing attack on the current disability benefits system, highlighting that "one in 10 of working age are on disability benefits" with many receiving approval through brief medical consultations.
"Many of them have been signed off by their GP on a 10-minute zoom consultation," he said, calling this practice "a complete and utter nonsense".
He noted that Government ministers had acknowledged systemic abuse, stating: "And the government themselves were saying, 'look, there are people', and I quote, 'taking the mickey out of the system'."
Despite this recognition, Farage argued the watered-down legislation failed to address these fundamental issues.
Farage told GB News that Labour are 'bankrupting the country'
GB News
Farage argued the current system is fundamentally unfair to working people who "feel, why bother? I'll be as well off on benefits."
He emphasised that "the gap between unemployment and employment has to widen" but claimed the evening's parliamentary proceedings had failed to address this issue.
The Reform UK leader linked the surge in disability claims to the pandemic period, stating: "Many of them who are on these claims have come in the last five years, since lockdowns, since the catastrophic impact of the pandemic that our Government put upon us."
He concluded that the system "is unfair to taxpayers" and "bankrupting the country."