Labour will unveil four major U-turns on its reforms to Britain's soaring benefits spend today in a bid to stave off a "mega-rebellion" which could shatter the party's working majority.
Work & Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall had already confirmed concessions would be made to her plans after 126 Labour backbenchers signed an amendment that would have halted the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill at its first Commons hurdle.
With its second reading set for Tuesday, Kendall has vowed to bring in a "fairer, more compassionate system" through dropping four of the Bill's key new rules.
Her original plans had restricted eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip) and cut the health-related element of universal credit.
Labour will unveil four major U-turns on its reforms to Britain's soaring benefits spend today in a bid to stave off a 'mega-rebellion' which could shatter the party's working majority
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The changes to Pip will now only apply to new claims from November 2026.
Cuts to the health-related element of universal credit have also been dialled back, with all existing recipients to have their incomes protected in real terms.
Details of a review of the Pip assessment, to be led by disabilities minister Sir Stephen Timms and "co-produced" with disabled people, will also be published.
Draft regulations for the "right to try", to guarantee that people receiving health and disability benefits to try work without fear of reassessment, will also be laid out to MPs.
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From next year until 2030, those already receiving the health element of Universal Credit and new claimants with severe conditions or 12 months or less to live will see their combined allowances rise at least in line with inflation annually.
Despite the concessions, several Labour MPs remain unconvinced.
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."
Vicky Foxcroft, who resigned as a Labour whip over the reforms, told The Guardian there were "areas where I still think there's need for movement" and had not decided how to vote.
Labour MP Olivia Blake warned the changes could create "an unethical two-tier system that treats two people with the exact same injury or illness differently".
Work & Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall had already confirmed concessions would be made to her plans after 126 Labour backbenchers signed an amendment that would have halted the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill at its first Commons hurdle
PAThe Liberal Democrats also plan to vote against the Bill.
Deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: "Liberal Democrats simply cannot support any measures that make things harder for unpaid carers, disabled people who rely on support with daily tasks in order to stay employed, and those whose disabilities mean that they will never be able to work."
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.
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