‘Stop Welfare Reform’ campaign news

“Let’s seize upon this opportunity” to fight poverty, says John McDonnell MP

LRC Chair John McDonnell MP has written to every Labour MP urging them to vote against George Osborne’s Welfare Benefits Bill which would cap support for the poorest at 1% for the next 3 years. The letter, in response to the measures unveiled in the Autumn Statement, calls for Labour to take on the Tories over welfare and poverty and to lead “a new national coalition against poverty”. [continue...]

FEATURE: People have had enough of being called scroungers

John McDonnell MP, LRC chair, speaking in the House of Commons debate on disability benefits and social care, 20 June 2012  [continue...]

FEATURE: We can afford welfare and housing

Andrew Fisher, LRC joint secretary and LEAP co-ordinator, puts the case for social security. On 19 May, Andrew will be speaking alongside Kevin Maguire, Teresa Pearce MP and Andy Winter at the LRC’s Brighton Festival fringe event ‘We can afford welfare and housing’. [continue...]

PRESS: Anti-poor ‘prejudice and political posturing’ reigns in Parliament, says John McDonnell MP

The Government today (1 Feb) reversed seven House of Lords amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill, and invoked a rarely used parliamentary statute to prevent any further consideration of the Bill. Restrictions to disabled people’s benefits, including cancer patients, and a cap on the amount a household can claim were the centrepieces of the government’s bill – despite massive opposition from the House of Lords, the Labour Party, welfare organisations, charities and disability campaigners. [continue...]

URGENT ACTION: Stop the Welfare Bill

MPs will be debating the Welfare Reform Bill on Wednesday 1 February 2012, which is the day after the Lords final debate. This is quite clearly a tactic to prevent campaigning and lobbying of MPs which is an attack on democracy. There are important issues at stake - protecting the disabled, including young disabled people and those with cancer, people on housing benefit, lone parents and larger families (details below). [continue...]

Defend welfare, Stop workfare

The welfare state is under increased attack from the coalition government. Since coming to power they have announced over £20bn in welfare cuts, while giving £25bn in tax breaks to businesses. The LRC is urging all members to fight against attacks on welfare by challenging anti-welfare attitudes within the Labour Party and in wider society (download new LRC flyer ‘Defend Welfare’) and by taking direct action in conjunction with other organisations. If you are a Labour Party member, please get this model motion passed in your CLP. [continue...]

Fight to defend Welfare goes on

The Welfare Reform Bill passed its 3rd reading in the House of Commons on 15 June by 288 votes to 238. Although it passed, our campaigning helped ensure that Labour MPs voted against it, having abstained at 2nd reading stage. However, recent comments by Ed Miliband and Liam Byrne prove we have to fight to continue to move party policy away from the workfare model promoted by New Labour and now being developed by the coalition. [continue...]

Frontbench abstains, but left MPs vote against Welfare Bill

The Labour frontbench abstained on tonight’s vote on the Welfare Reform Bill. John McDonnell MP, LRC Chair, was among just 22 MPs who voted against the Bill. John tweeted, “Ed Miliband decided PLP should only vote for amendment to Tories Welfare cuts Bill & then abstain.It is so appalling I am voting against”. The LRC previously wrote to all Labour MPs urging them to vote against the Bill. [continue...]

Labour must campaign against the Welfare Reform Bill

MPs will debate Iain Duncan Smith’s Welfare Reform Bill on Wednesday 9 March. Ahead of the debate, the LRC has written to every Labour MP asking them to speak in the debate and oppose the Bill. Our Welfare Reform Bill briefing (which was sent to every Labour MP) sets out why the Bill should be opposed.  [continue...]

Support the Open Letter on Housing

We believe current Government proposals are not fair or just. Cuts to Housing Benefit, replacing future secure and assured tenancies with time limited short hold tenancies and up to 80% of market rents, are an unfair and ill-conceived threat to tenants and would be a disaster for communities. [continue...]

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