Starmer clashes with Diane Abbott at PMQs as she says there is ‘nothing moral’ about £5bn benefit cuts: UK politics live

Helen Barnard, director of policy, research and impact at Trussell, said: “We’re deeply concerned by the cuts announced to disability payments today. People at food banks have told us they are terrified of how they might survive.

“We welcome the positive proposals from the Department for Work and Pensions to boost the basic rate to Universal Credit and invest in employment support.

“However, we fear these steps will be undermined by a Treasury drive to make short-term savings. Huge cuts risk pushing more disabled people to the doors of food banks, and will have devastating consequences for us all.

“The UK government was elected on manifesto pledges to end the need for emergency food parcels. This isn’t what people voted for.

“Disabled people are already three times more likely to face hunger, and three quarters of people at food banks are disabled or live with someone who is. Our social security system should be rooted in justice and compassion, able to be there for us all, especially when we need it most.

“This isn’t a done deal. With at least a year before any cuts come into force, there’s still time for the Prime Minister and Chancellor to rethink and make good on today’s promise to restore trust and fairness in the social security system.”

My colleague Albert Toth reports:

Our Political Editor David Maddox reports:

Richard Burgon, MP for Leeds East, has warned Sir Keir Starmer the government will face “the mother of all rebellions” if it does not drop its welfare reforms.

Writing on X, Mr Burgon said: “The Prime Minister was unable to answer a simple question today about why a disabled person who needs help to eat, wash and manage toilet needs could no longer get PIP under his proposals.

“The Government must drop this cruel proposal or it’ll face the mother of all rebellions.”

The government has been asked why it has not consulted disabled groups on its proposed cuts to benefits.

Shadow work and pensions minister Danny Kruger, speaking from the backbenches, asked Sir Keir Starmer why he wasn’t working with disabled people.

The Conservative MP said: “After 14 years to get ready, they came into power with no plan to reform welfare. But now in a panic because of their economic mismanagement, they are cutting benefits for disabled people without consulting them at all. It probably says in his folder that the High Court ruled the Conservative’s consultation was too short, but at least we consulted. They are not consulting at all.

“So will the Prime Minister explain why he is doing things to disabled people, and not with them?”

Sir Keir said: “What it says in my folder is they had 14 years, including five with a majority, they didn’t need to consult, get on with it.

“They had a majority of 80 for the last five years. They’re now carping on with some of their ideas, 14 years and they didn’t implement a single one. They simply broke the system. They’re in no place to lecture other people.”

Sir Keir Starmer clashed with Labour veteran Diane Abbott over the £5 billion cut to the welfare bill.

Ms Abbott told him: “There is nothing moral about cutting benefits for what may be up to a million people.

“This is not about morality, this is about the Treasury’s wish to balance the country’s books on the back of the most vulnerable and poor people in this society.”

Sir Keir told her it was a “moral issue” that one-in-eight young people were not in employment, education or training.

He said “I’m not going to turn away from that”, adding he was “shocked that a million people, young people, are in that position, and I’m not prepared to shrug my shoulders and walk past it”.

Kemi Badenoch challenged Sir Keir Starmer over Labour’s economic policies, questioning the need for an “emergency budget” after the Chancellor’s previous budget, saying:

• “The Chancellor claimed that her budget was a once in a parliamentary reset. So why are we having an emergency budget next week?”

Sir Keir defended Labour’s economic record:

• “We have delivered record investment into this country, had three interest rates cuts in a row, and wages are going up faster than prices.”

• He criticised the previous Conservative government for “a massive £22 billion black hole in the economy.”

Ms Badenoch raised concerns about tax increases on businesses, saying:

• “Growth is down, borrowing is up, and she has destroyed business confidence.”

• “We had to fill the £22 billion black hole that they left.”

He also questioned if Labour would reverse national insurance increases, saying:

• “She carps from the sideline but can’t make her mind up whether she supports or doesn’t support national insurance rises.”

Badenoch asked Starmer to exempt hospices, pharmacies, and care providers from national insurance rises, to which Starmer replied:

• “We’ve already invested £100 million for adult and children’s hospices.”

Colum Eastwood (SDLP) raised concerns about disability benefit reforms, citing a constituent’s situation where a disabled person would lose support under the new system.

• He asked: “What was the point if Labour are going to do this?”

Starmer defended the reforms, stating:

• “The current system is morally and economically indefensible and we’re right to reform it.”
• He outlined three principles for reform: work if you can, help if you need it, support if you can’t work.

Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly claimed to have made “tough choices” since the general election in July.

Examples included snatching winter fuel payments from millions of pensioners, targeting farmers with an inheritance tax hike, maintaining the two-child benefit cap and on Tuesday axing £5bn of benefit spending.

But Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer challenged the prime minister on Wednesday about just who his “tough choices” are targeting.

Calling for a wealth tax on Britain’s top earners, Ms Denyer said: “Does the Prime Minister really think that the way to tackle this is to put the onus on to older people, children and now sick and disabled people, rather than on the shoulders of super rich with a wealth tax those people who can most easily afford to pay?”