“,”elementId”:”cd28d1bb-3ba6-4a70-a381-7ee2ef2406da”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
Our reforms are guided by three principles. First, if you can work, you should. Second, if you want to work, the government should support you to make that a reality. Third, if you will never be able to work because of your illness or disability, the state should help you to get by with security, dignity and respect.
\n
So, nobody with a condition that means they will never be able to work will lose out from our changes. Nor will they have to endure the indignity and fear of endless reassessment – that requirement will be scrapped.
\n
“,”elementId”:”2e45b1a9-e297-466b-80d4-2da0ed4b8408″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
If Starmer can persuade disabled people that this is true, then much of the opposition to what the government is doing would diminish. But, from the reaction we saw yesterday, it is clear that disabled people, and the charities that represent them, do not believe that this is correct.
“,”elementId”:”5fc10530-1436-413b-8117-17123550118d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Most of the savings are going to come from the government tightening eligibility for Pip (the personal independence payment), a disability benefit that covers the extra costs people incur because they are disabled and that is paid to people both in work and out of work. Yesterday the Resolution Foundation thinktank said these changes would cost up to 1.2 million people between £4,200 and £6,300.
“,”elementId”:”dc985a7d-9186-410c-9ac7-56b19e961c87″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Speaking on the Today programme this morning, Ruth Curtice, the foundation’s chief executive, said:
“,”elementId”:”097bf865-066d-46b4-b9c2-3fba06be235d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
The government haven’t given us a number for how many will be affected, and because they’ve made quite a detailed change to the system, we can’t tell exactly who will be affected.
\n
I think it would have been good if the government had told us yesterday, but given what they’ve told us about how much they’re planning, the Resolution Foundation estimate it’s around a million people who are losing their entitlement to Pip completely ..
\n
You can think of £5bn as small or large, depending on your perspective – getting those from a million individuals means that for those individuals, it’s really significant income loss.
\n
“,”elementId”:”1597db22-bb7d-4c38-a99c-f82f2da564f6″}]”attribute”: { “pinned”: false, keyevent “: true, “summary “: false},” “blockcreatedon”: 1742377167000, “blockcreatedondisplay”: 05.39 edt “, “blocklastupdated”: 1742378278000, “blockfirstpublisheddisplay”: 05.57 edt “, “blockfirstpublisheddisplay”: 05.57 edt “, “blockfirstpublisheddisplaynotimezone”: 05.57 “, “title”:[]”Primary Datrin”: “Wednesday, March 19, 2025 06.08 EDT”, “SecondaryDateline”: “First Wednesday, March 19, 2025 05.39 EDT”, {” ID:” 67DA7B78F087E8A7A3D2D93″, “Elements”:”[{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Good morning. Keir Starmer and his team got through the announcement yesterday of disability benefit cuts worth £5bn without total Labour meltdown – no one has resigned from the government yet – but backbenchers were broadly sullen and unpersuaded, and the battle to implement these changes is only just starting.
“,”elementId”:”f4d87b99-363c-4fde-9d90-98c67c9982f2″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Here is our overnight story, by Kiran Stacey, Pippa Crerar and Jessica Elgot.
“,”elementId”:”f13c6c6c-8d0b-47da-8920-4b350b63f7fe”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Up to 1.2m disabled people will lose thousands in UK welfare overhaul, experts warn”,”elementId”:”e3237d6b-8b20-44fd-8778-566320034284″,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/18/britain-welfare-overhaul-disability-benefits-pip-liz-kendall”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Patrick Butler, the Guardian’s social policy editor, has an analysis here.
“,”elementId”:”185333b3-2aaa-4f22-b6dc-158cbc3f4e48″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Liz Kendall struggles to sell ‘immoral and devastating’ disability benefits cut”,”elementId”:”52ca4b35-c7ec-446e-a2df-7ac80228d9ef”,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/mar/18/liz-kendall-struggles-to-sell-immoral-and-devastating-disability-benefits-cut”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
And Archie Bland has a good overall uspum of where we are in his First Edition briefing.
“,”elementId”:”2227ebcd-8e4d-47df-bfe2-c46c905bdff9″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement”,”prefix”:”Related: “,”text”:”Tuesday briefing: The devastating toll of Labour’s disability welfare cuts”,”elementId”:”165f733a-b00e-4cfd-bff7-c9afd5832fa8″,”role”:”thumbnail”,”url”:”https://www.theguardian.com/global/2025/mar/19/tuesday-briefing-the-devastating-toll-of-labours-disability-welfare-cuts”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Starmer has written an article for the Times defending the cuts (more on that soon), and Stephen Timms, the social security and disability minister, has been giving interviews this morning. His first was on Times Radio, where Kate McCann quickly highlighted one of the reasons why this is perilous territory for Labour. Timms said that, even with these cuts, the welfare bill was still going up; but these measures made the rising cost “sustainable”, he argued. So McCann asked if the government was ruling out further benefit cuts in future. Timms replied:
“,”elementId”:”98fa3bed-2fd2-4bdd-a2b6-d86806a4f7a3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
The proposals were set out in full yesterday. We’re going to be tabling legislation to implement a number of those changes. We’re going to be consulting over a full 12-week period on some of the proposals that we made yesterday. And we’re determined to get this absolutely right.
\n
“,”elementId”:”da51d057-b2f5-413b-8fc8-688527d4177e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
McCann tried again:
“,”elementId”:”27529df2-679a-4e34-9b81-c14b3d33206e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
Can we just be very clear, though – are you ruling out coming back for more from the welfare bill?
\n
“,”elementId”:”e4d4997f-6258-4084-b0d5-9ff7f834905d”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
And Timms replied:
“,”elementId”:”e9340696-b536-490d-b8de-abd52b696d30″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.BlockquoteBlockElement”,”html”:”
\n
Who knows what will happen in the next five years?
\n
“,”elementId”:”337665ac-fc24-481f-bb94-e29ce2b83abc”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Indeed. And we’re not going to find out today. But we will hear what Starmer has to say in next three hours, when Starmer takes PMQs.
“,”elementId”:”c461c416-715a-4783-92fa-fc609501e36c”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Here is the agenda for the day.
“,”elementId”:”508d6c93-2e5a-404a-a327-97ccf7ccf4cd”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Morning: Matt Hancock, the former Tory health secretary, gives evidence to the Covid inquiry has part of its module looking at PPE procurement.
“,”elementId”:”7d1ed12c-30a4-4b0c-b651-fe67648ca968″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
Noon: Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQs.
“,”elementId”:”76ba53e8-9788-4a47-a9fe-3de3b4631c4a”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
After 12.30pm: MPs debate Lords amendments to the bill putting up employer national insurance.
“,”elementId”:”6c411785-0679-40fb-a15b-5f90b8e14bac”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
3pm: Martin Lewis, the consumer champion and founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, gives evidence to the Commons energy company.
“,”elementId”:”ac35878b-fd98-4812-b385-fe84ec9b2a4e”},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
If you want to contact me, please post a message below the line or message me on social media. I can’t read all the messages BTL, but if you put “Andrew” in a message aimed at me, I am more likely to see it because I search for posts containing that word.
“,”elementId”:”d64d40e6-c6ae-4d8b-8390-e17d6e97b047″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
If you want to flag something up urgently, it is best to use social media. You can reach me on Bluesky at @andrewsparrowgdn. The Guardian has given up posting from its official accounts on X but individual Guardian journalists are there, I still have my account, and if you message me there at @AndrewSparrow, I will see it and respond if necessary.
“,”elementId”:”da1d6f97-c622-4c69-8988-3a2f65ab19a3″},{“_type”:”model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement”,”html”:”
I find it very helpful when readers point out mistakes, even minor typos. No error is too small to correct. And I find your questions very interesting too. I can’t promise to reply to them all, but I will try to reply to as many as I can, either BTL or sometimes in the blog.Here is the agenda for the day.
“,”elementId”:”9105956b-7da2-4eca-8e9e-9f1b026c509f”}]”attribute”: { “pinned”: false, keyevent “: true, “summary “: false},” “blockcreatedon”: 1742377167000, “blockcreatedondisplay”: 05.39 edt “, “blocklastupdated”: 1742377072000, “05.37 edt “, “blockfirstpublished”: 1742377167000, “blockfirstpublisheddisplay”: 05.39 edt “, “blockfirstpublisheddisplaynotimezone”: 05.39 “, “title”:[]”PrimaryDateline”: “Wednesday, March 19, 2025 06.08 EDT”, “SecondaryDateline”: “Wednesday, March 19, 2025 05.39 EDT “}], “FilterKeyEvents”: “false”: “key-events-carousel-mobile”, “abstruteervert”: “fals””>
Important Events
The Guardian was published today by his father, Brian, who has mental health issues, receiving a PIP.
The priorities argue that those who don't have the condition “meaning they can't work” will not lose out from reducing disability benefits.
in His article in the Times Regarding reductions in disability benefits, Keyer priority Make a bold statement – that those who are conditioned to never work will not lose. He says:
Our reforms are guided by three principles. First, if you can work, you should. Secondly, if you want to work, the government should help you make it a reality. Third, if you cannot work due to your illness or disability, the nation should help you to bring security, dignity and respect.
Therefore, anyone with the condition that they cannot work means that they will lose from our change. They must also endure the insults and fears of an infinite reevaluation of the requirement being discarded.
If priorities can convince people with disabilities that this is true, much of the opposition to what the government is doing will decrease. However, from the reaction I saw yesterday, it is clear that people with disabilities and the charities representing them do not believe this is correct.
The majority of savings arise from tightening eligibility for PIP eligibility (individual independent payments). This covers the extra costs people suffer as people with disabilities are disabled and are paid to those at work and at work. yesterday Solution Foundation ThinkTank said those changes would cost up to 1.2 million people between £4,200 and £6,300.
Speaking during today's program this morning, Loose Curtisthe foundation's chief executive said:
The government is not giving us numbers for the numbers that will be affected. They made very detailed changes to the system so we can't tell you exactly who will be affected.
If the government told us yesterday, it would have been good, but given that they told us how much they were planning, the Resolution Foundation estimates that around one million people are completely unqualified for PIP.
Depending on your perspective, you can consider £5 billion as small or large. Getting people from millions of individuals means that for those individuals it is truly a huge income loss.
Welfare bills are still increasing, but reductions will make it “sustainable,” the minister says.
good morning. Keir Starmer and his team yesterday announced disability benefits cuts worth £5 billion without a total workforce meltdown. No one has resigned from the government, but backventures were widely gross and unacceptable.
This is our one night story Kiran Stacy, Pippa Cler and Jessica Ergott.
Patrick Butlerthe Social Policy Editor of the Guardian, here is an analysis.
and Archie Brand The overall USPUM of where we are in his first edition briefing is excellent.
The order of priorities is written Articles of the era Keep the cut (more on that soon), and Stephen Timsthe Minister of Social Security was interviewed this morning. He first went on Times Radio, here Kate McCann He quickly highlighted one of the reasons why this is a dangerous territory of labor. Timms He said that despite these cuts, the welfare bill was still up. However, he argued that these measures made rising costs “sustainable.” So McCann He was asked if the government is excluding further profit cuts in the future. Timms reply:
The proposal was set up completely yesterday. To implement many of these changes, we will table the law. We will discuss some of the suggestions we made yesterday over the entire 12-week period. And we are determined to make this absolutely right.
McCann Try again:
But can we be very clear?
and Timms reply:
Who knows what will happen in the next five years?
surely. And we don't intend to know today. But in the next three hours after the ancestors take the PMQ, we hear what the stars have to say.
This is the agenda for the day.
morning: Former Tory Health Secretary Matt Hancock has provided evidence of the Covid investigation.
noon: Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQS.
After 12:30pm: MPS's argument commander will amend the bill to establish national insurance for employers.
3pm: Martin Lewis, Consumer Champion and Founder of Moneysavingexpert.com, provides evidence to Commons Energy Company.
If you would like to contact me, please post a message under the line or message me on social media. I can't read all the messages BTL, but if I put “Andrew” in a message directed at me, I'm more likely to see it because I search for posts that contain that word.
If you want to flag something urgently, it's best to use social media. You can contact me on Bluesky at @AndrewsParrowgdn. The Guardian has given up on posting from X's official account, but individual Guardian journalists are there. I still have an account. I'll send a message to me with @andrewsparrow and look at it and respond if necessary.
When readers point out mistakes, I think it's very helpful. The error is too small to fix. And I think your question is also very interesting. I can't promise to reply to all of them, but I try to reply to as many things as I can on BTL or sometimes blogging.
