Starmer vows to press on with welfare reform as he takes blame for U-turn

SIR Keir Starmer has insisted welfare reform is still on the table as he took the blame for Tuesday's U-turn in the face of a major backbench rebellion.

- CHRISTOPHER MCKEON, DAVID HUGHES, DAVID LYNCH AND ELLIE CRABBE

In an interview with the BBC, the Prime Minister acknowledged his Government did not “get the process right” and failed to “engage in the way that we should have done” on welfare changes.

But he added that his Government would “come through it stronger” as he vowed to “reflect” on what needed to be done “to ensure we don’t get into a situation like that again”.

Despite the setback, which saw changes to the personal independence payment (Pip) stripped out of his welfare legislation, Mr Starmer said yesterday his government was “pressing on with welfare reform.

He said: “It is important we reform the system. Welfare isn’t working.”

The Prime Minister went on to praise disabilities minister Sir Stephen Timms, who is now leading a review of Pip, saying he was “a thoroughly decent man of huge integrity that we can have faith in to do the review and make the changes that are necessary”.

Mr Starmer’s U-turn saw planned changes to Pip eligibility put off until after Mr Timms has completed his review of the benefit next autumn, leaving only changes to universal credit to go forward.