A furious clash erupted on GB News after Conservative MP Joe Robertson branded the Government's welfare reforms a "cruel £5billion cash grab" during a heated exchange with Labour MP Natalie Fleet.
Robertson accused the Government of failing to reduce welfare dependency, claiming that "even if this bill goes through, there will be more people on welfare benefits year on year on year".
The Isle of Wight East MP told the People's Channel: "They're not trying to get a grip on it. In fact, even if this bill goes through, there will be more people on welfare benefits year on year on year. This bill does not reduce the number of people on welfare.
"What it is, is a £5billion cash grab because the Chancellor has ground the economy to a halt and she needs money.
Labour MP Natalie Fleet fumed at the comments
GB NEWS
"This isn’t reform. It’s not targeted. It’s unfair. It's taking money from some of those, yes, who shouldn't be on benefits but it will also take money from those who should be, and who deserve support. I don’t believe they’ve changed."
In a fiery exchange, Labour MP Natalie Fleet responded: "Have you got any examples of who you believe should be on benefits, that these measures will take support away from?"
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However, Robertson replied: "The thousands of children who will be pushed into poverty by this according to the Government's own impact assessment."
Fleet quipped: "We’ve already put measures in place to prevent that. You didn’t want to go there on child poverty. The last Labour Government took me out of poverty and that is why I’m here today."
Robertson then fumed: "I’m not here to talk about Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. I’m here to talk about Keir Starmer and the Chancellor."
Firing back, Fleet added: "Where is your child poverty strategy? You didn’t have one because you didn’t care. Now, for political point-scoring, you seem to care."
Robertson accused the government of failing to reduce welfare dependency,
GB NEWS
The heated exchange highlighted deep divisions over welfare reform as the Prime Minister faces rebellion from more than 120 Labour backbenchers who have signed an amendment to halt the changes ahead of the July 1 Commons vote.
Ministers have said the welfare reforms could save up to £5billion annually, but the legislation faces significant opposition from within Labour's own ranks.
However, the Prince Minister is determined to "press on" with the legislation.
The reforms include changes to Personal Independence Payment eligibility criteria, with proposed alterations to the daily living component aimed at reducing welfare spending.
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The Department for Work and Pensions announced that existing claimants would receive 13 weeks of additional financial security when affected by changes to the daily living component.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has set out conditions for Tory support, saying Labour MPs are in "open rebellion" over the welfare bill.
"The Government is in a mess, their MPs are in open rebellion. If Keir Starmer wants our support, he needs to meet three conditions that align with our core Conservative principles," Badenoch said.
The Leader of the Opposition instead demanded that the welfare budget should be reduced, measures must be introduced to get people back into work, and no new tax rises can come into place in the autumn.
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