Can someone explain what labour has just voted on ?

[alexalisten]

Im so confused what actually happened and what does it mean can somebody explain really simply please? I dont want to hear how much you hate disabled people and how lazy they are im just trying to understand what just happened.

I think basically they have shelved the PIP reforms until a full review/ consultation has been done by Steven Timms. This will be completed by next Autumn so seems unlikely that the new rules would come in next Nov if they even get passed at all. The Steven Timms review will be a thorough/ proper look at PIP assessments and criteria, not the rushed 4 point rule that hadn't had proper consultation. So this seems to be good for now. This was a last minute concession 90 minutes before the vote which Starmer had to agree just to get the bill through.
The UC rules seem to still be going ahead from April 2026, so the LCWRA rate reducing from then. What I would like to know though is whether people will still need to have PIP daily living to get this element as proposed. People already getting the LCWRA should get rates protected in real terms.
It is anticipated that now the main proposals of the bill have been shelved it will now cost more than it was meant to save so speculation is that there will be tax rises in the Autumn to offset the 5bn savings that are not now happening.

Sorry I should have said UC LCWRA rate reduced for new claimants.

Thankyou so much for the reply I appreciate it they just make it all so complicated to understand and everyone seemed unhappy from both sides so I couldn't figure out if it was good news or bad news.

I think it's good news in that hopefully after the thorough review of the PIP process they might come up with a better way of reforming PIP than what they were proposing ( the four point rule ) which would have been catastrophic for new claimants . They could still go ahead with the four point rule, I guess time will tell. They will have to consult with disabled people, charities etc and do a proper assessment of how many people would be affected by any changes. rather than just trying to rush things through.

Wouldn't it have been more sensible to take the bill off the table until they've completed the PIP review? Or did they only work out the costs at the last minute?

Honestly, things seem to be getting more disorganised every day. Unless I'm missing something ...which I may well be.

It feels like all they've done is use up Parliamentary time and create extra costs.

It's a shambles.
They had to make the last minute concession to basically remove the PIP changes from the bill at the last minute as otherwise it would not have passed.
I think the PM will be gone soon.

@Miley23 thank you for clarifying

I suppose Starmer thinks it would be even worse to withdraw the bill at the last minute. But if we've ended up with a bill that costs more, though I'm not clear why that would be the case, then it's an appalling outcome.