News from The Labour Party

“Tories’ welfare credibility in tatters” – Purnell

James Purnell MP, Labour’s Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, responding to the Conservatives’ decision to vote against key measures in Labour’s Welfare Reform Bill this evening, said that the Tories’ credibility on serious reform of the benefits system was in tatters.

Their opposition to measures in the Bill tonight has broken repeated promises by David Cameron that he would “do the right thing” and support Labour’s package.

The vote is a particular embarrassment for the Tory Frontbench after they repeatedly predicted that only Tory votes would pass the reforms through Parliament.

James Purnell MP said:

“This vote leaves Tory credibility on welfare reform in tatters. Time and time again David Cameron said that this Labour Bill would only get through the Commons thanks to Tory votes. In fact the Bill has passed despite Tory votes against it.

“Cameron has described this as the ‘central mission’ of his party but when the opportunity to pass a serious test was presented the Tories failed. The Tories’ policy is the same as it has always been – to abandon people to a life on benefits without any help.

“It is clear that only Labour is serious about reforming the benefits system.”

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