Labour Faces Internal Divisions Over Planned Welfare Reforms

Keir Starmer's welfare overhaul, including potential benefit cuts, draws criticism from senior Labour figures and backbenchers concerned about its impact on vulnerable populations.

Labour leader Keir Starmer plans to introduce welfare reforms aimed at encouraging people back to work, including tightening eligibility for incapacity benefits.
Diane Abbott and Andy Burnham have expressed strong opposition to the proposed benefit cuts, arguing they risk pushing vulnerable people further into poverty.
Critics within the party, including Abbott, argue that reducing disability benefits is inconsistent with Labour's values and could alienate traditional supporters.
Treasury minister Emma Reynolds defended the reforms, emphasizing that a safety net for the most vulnerable will remain in place and calling the changes a moral duty.
Concerns persist that the proposed changes could affect up to a million people, with charities warning of potential increases in poverty among disabled individuals.