Minister: Welfare reform set to give people 'peace of mind'

THE introduction of proposed legislation to reform the welfare system "marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity", the Work and Pensions Secretary has said. Liz Kendall's words come amid a backlash from some Labour MPs who have criticised the "awful" cuts to welfare which the Government hopes can save up to £5 billion a year.

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The reforms - aimed at encouraging more people off sickness benefits and into work - are set to include the tightening of criteria for personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability benefit, as well as a cut to the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC) and delayed access to only those aged 22 and over.

Ministers are likely to face a Commons stand-off with back-bench Labour MPs over their plans, with dozens of them last month saying the proposals were "impossible to support".