Devolved parliaments hit out at ‘inadequate consultation’ on welfare reforms amid growing Labour rebellion

The three devolved parliaments have jointly criticised the “inadequate consultation and engagement” from the UK Government over its planned changes to disability benefits. 

The conveners of Holyrood’s social security committee, the Welsh Senedd’s equality committee and the Northern Ireland Assembly’s communities committee have written a letter to Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, over the reforms. 

In it, they argue those who will see their benefits change “fear” the unintended consequences of the policy.  

The committees also say there has been a “lack of robust data and jurisdiction-specific impact assessments” which limits their ability to scrutinise the proposals. 

The UK Government announced changes to eligibility criteria for personal independence payments and the health element of Universal Credit in March which aim to reduce the size of the welfare bill. 

But this was met with significant criticism from across the UK parliament, as well as the third sector. 

Now, Labour MPs have mounted a rebellion against the changes – with 123 of them having signed a motion which aims to stop the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill from progressing. 

They are concerned it will only push more people into poverty and not deliver the intention to get more people back into work. 

In the letter Kendall, the three committee conveners say: “The committees are agreed that inadequate consultation and engagement by the UK Government with stakeholders and the devolved institutions has contributed to this sense of concern.  

“Limited in-person consultation at just nine events, and only in major cities, is also restricting further the opportunity to hear from the many people who fear their ability to enter or return to the workplace will be adversely affected by the UK Government’s approach to reform.  

“In addition, the lack of robust data and jurisdiction-specific impact assessments presents significant challenges for our three committees to effectively scrutinise potential impacts.  

“As the elected members who make up the three committees, we are well placed to assess demographic and historical contexts and to ensure dialogue is constructive and reform is meaningful and positive. However, we remain constrained by the lack of quality information.” 

The growing rebellion is being seen as a major test of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership, though he has denied reports it will be treated as a confidence vote. 

He insisted yesterday his government would “press ahead” with the plan because it was necessary to ensure the benefits system is “sustainable for the future”. 

Reports suggested the government could move to delay the first vote on the bill to give it time to convince its backbenches to back the it. However, deputy prime minister Angela Rayner told the Commons at PMQs that the vote “will go ahead on Tuesday”.

Of Scottish Labour’s 37 MPs, 11 have so far signed the amendment which would prevent the bill going further. Among them is the Scottish Affairs Committee chair Patricia Ferguson. 

The SNP has now urged leader Anas Sarwar to distance himself from the UK Government’s policy. 

Sarwar previously said that while he backed the principle of reform, any changes must be “fair”. 

SNP deputy leader at Westminster Pete Wishart said in a letter to the Scottish Labour leader: “This is a fundamental test of leadership. I am therefore calling on you to apologise for supporting these disability cuts, admit you were wrong, and get behind SNP calls for Keir Starmer to withdraw the Labour Party's disability cuts bill without further delay.”