Jonathan Reynolds has urged Labour MPs to back the government’s welfare plan amid a looming rebellion, insisting the proposed legislation is “far better than we have at the minute.”
The business and trade secretary called on his colleagues to “confront difficult issues” and maintained that the approach is “part of what this government was elected to do.”
It comes as Keir Starmer faces the largest rebellion of its tenure as prime minister, with 39 Labour MPs having signed a “wrecking amendment” to the welfare bill.
MPs will debate the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill in the House of Commons at lunchtime before a vote is expected at 7pm.
Leading rebel Rachel Maskell has tabled a reasoned amendment that, if passed, would block the bill. In total, 66 MPs of all parties have signed the amendment.
Calling on his colleagues to back the government’s reforms, Reynolds argued that MPs must not “avoid difficult issues”.
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Latest: 39 Labour MPs sign new amendment to block welfare cuts
He told Times Radio: “I do agree this is a difficult issue but I think if you avoid difficult issues you end up in a much worse position. We’ve seen this incredible rise in the money we spend on Pip — it’s doubled in five years. I don’t think that’s substantially reduced poverty, by the way.
He added: “If you look at where we are today we have a set of proposals which are far better than what we have at the minute, have genuine co-production at the heart of that in terms of the Timms review that’s going to take this forward and some really important things.
“We’ve protected the most vulnerable people through not having people with severe health conditions reassessed, having a right to try, reforming access to work for disabled people.
“This overall package is better and does make sure we’re spending money in the right way.”
Reynolds also refused to comment on whether Labour MPs who vote against the welfare bill would be punished.
Reports last week suggested rebel MPs could face suspension, or even deselection.
Speaking to Sky News later on Tuesday morning, the business and trade secretary was asked what the consequences would be for backbenchers who reject the bill.
Reynolds said there had been a “positive conversation with colleagues about what they want from this process”.
He said everyone wants the most vulnerable to be protected and “I think we have worked with people in order to provide that”.
“I’d ask them to support the government on that basis, because clearly what we’ve got here is something which is better than the existing system”, he added.
Asked whether MPs would lose the whip for voting against the government, he said he was “not aware of anything like that” but “those issues are for the chief whip”.
Josh Self is editor of Politics.co.uk, follow him on Bluesky here and X here.
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