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The UK Government has indicated that it has no plans to abandon proposed changes to benefits, including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or to reverse cuts to the Winter Fuel Payment, according to Treasury minister Emma Reynolds. Speaking on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, Reynolds emphasized the need for welfare reform to safeguard essential support for vulnerable populations, as reported by the Daily Record.
Reynolds stated that the Labour Government is committed to reforming the system to protect the most vulnerable while encouraging work and self-sufficiency. She noted that changes to PIP are necessary due to a concerning number of young people not in employment, education, or training.
Addressing the decision not to reverse the Winter Fuel Payment cut, Reynolds reiterated the Government’s stance, indicating that discussions with backbench MPs would continue. She also emphasized that individuals with lifelong or deteriorating health conditions would no longer be subject to reassessment, a move aimed at preserving their dignity.
The minister acknowledged the sensitivity of the proposed reforms, stressing the importance of dialogue with Labour MPs as part of ongoing government operations. Meanwhile, a report from The Times revealed that the Government’s Green Paper from March includes plans to tighten the criteria for PIP, potentially affecting approximately 800,000 people and proposing reductions to the sickness-related component of Universal Credit.
