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welfare

  • 25 Jan 2012
    Lord's welfare amendments on CSA and emergency payments

    A series of further amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill are being discussed at the end of the WRB report stage in the House of Lords today.

    The two key amendments are as follows:

    62BJ

  • 25 Jan 2012
    Government challenged in Lords on Social Fund and child support

    The government has been desperately lobbying behind the scenes to try to avoid further defeats on its controversial welfare bill in the Lords today.

  • 23 Jan 2012
    Bishops lead the way in government defeat on benefits

    The government has been defeated in the House of Lords in a key part of its attempts to reduce the benefits available to unemployed people and part-time workers.

  • 23 Jan 2012
    Falsehoods and confusions about the benefit cap

    Since early this morning there has been a furious battle to establish proper fact and true value in the argument over the government's proposed welfare benefit cap. As I write (17:30, 23 January 2012) it has just won the first vote in the House of Lords, but the arguments have been going the other way.

  • 23 Jan 2012
    Benefit cap will hit part-time workers, admit ministers

    The government has admitted that its household benefits cap will apply to part-time workers as well as to unemployed people.

  • 23 Jan 2012
    Children's Society analysis of government's benefit cut impact statement

    The government's revised impact assessment of the household benefit cap was only published this morning. It was full of surprises, none pleasant.

  • 23 Jan 2012
    Briefing: More crucial Welfare Reform Bill votes

    Following three defeats and one almost-defeat in the House of Lords in the past fortnight, the Report Stage of the controversial Welfare Reform Bill continues this week and then comes to the Lords one last time on 31 January 2012 before passing to the Commons and on to Royal Assent.

  • 23 Jan 2012
    'The disabled and sick': a breed apart?

    Everywhere we look see and hear the phrase “The Sick and Disabled”. It is as if somehow 'these people' are a separate commodity - other than us, says Karen McAndrew. A breed apart. Seeing ‘them’ like this is what allows politicians and journalists to discuss ‘their’ future in terms of statistics. Talking of ‘them’ in these terms makes it easier for people to dissociate and thereby give consent for actions which will have an adverse effect. The arguments over the deeply flawed Welfare Reform Bill are a clear example of this. The Spartacus campaign is a key part of the much-needed reversal.

  • 23 Jan 2012
    A government declaring war on welfare?

    The Welfare Reform Bill debate has now given way to open warfare, says Simon Barrow. These latest battles are as much about the soul (or lack of it) of the coalition project as they are about money or the demographics of power. The government can command majorities in both Houses. But it is losing the argument, losing good will and storing up massive costs - financial and political - for the future.

  • 23 Jan 2012
    Coalition seeks its own welfare in a bout of bishop bashing

    With Liberal Democrats deeply divided on welfare reform, senior coalition figures have united to attack bishops and faith leaders over benefit capping.