Sir Sadiq Khan has said he still has concerns about the government’s planned benefits cuts despite the Prime Minister’s partial U-turn following a rebellion by backbench MPs.
The Mayor of London said the proposed welfare reforms need “radical transformation to be fit for purpose” before they are voted on on Tuesday.
Sir Keir Starmer has made concessions in the face of a backbench Labour MP backlash. Original plans were to restrict the eligibility for personal independence payments (Pip) and cut the health-related element of universal credit in a bid to save £5billion a year.
But following the rebellion, the changes to Pip will now only apply to new claims from November 2026.
Sir Sadiq said on Monday: “I welcome the changes announced by the Government, and I welcome that the Government has pledged to work with disabled people and disabled groups.
“But I still have serious concerns about these plans. I’ve met too many Londoners who do work, but through no fault of their own need support from the state, and they’re really worried they’ll lose that.
“The mission of the Labour government should be to support people out of poverty and this Bill still needs radical transformation to be fit for purpose."
“I’m hoping today and tomorrow the Government go further to address the concerns many of us have.”
Sir Keir is still facing backlash from his own MPs who have argued the changes could result in a “two-tier” system, with current welfare claimants receiving much higher payments than future recipients who have the same disabilities or conditions.
Dozens of Labour MPs are expected to still vote against the reforms, despite the last minute changes made by the government.
Charity Scope has estimated that disabled people could face extra costs of almost £15,000-a-year by the end of the decade.
It warned that the welfare cuts will simply lead to a "two-tier system" where "huge numbers" of people in need are still out of pocket.
Its analysis has estimated average monthly costs - not taking into account welfare reforms - to cover extras such as higher energy bills or specialist mobility equipment, are likely to rise to £1,244 for disabled people in the UK, totalling almost £15,000 a year, by April 2029.
A London Labour MP on Monday said he still will not support the Bill. Clive Efford, who represents Eltham and Chislehurst, was one of more than 100 Labour MPs to rebel against the Government's proposed changes to the welfare system.
He told BBC Radio 4: "There are still £3.5 billion-worth of savings that are required in these measures and we don't yet know the poverty impact that they will have.
“The original motion was asking for more time for us to understand the impact of these changes and that still applies to those people who will be adversely affected.
"I think there are a lot of people waiting to hear what the government is saying today who may be inclined to accept what the government has done.
“For me the situation hasn't changed for those people who will be adversely affected and until we know and understand the impact on them, we shouldn't be taking what I think is a leap in the dark.
"There are choices that the Government can make here; there are other places it can go to identify the resources. What we want to see, and fully support, is measures the government is putting in the palace to assist people to move into work, the right to try, we support, but we can't guarantee the savings.”
A government minister has suggested it is not "constructive" to discuss potential punishments for MPs who may decide to rebel against Sir Keir's welfare plans.
Baroness Jacqui Smith dodged the question when asked what the consequences should be for those who vote against the government on the matter.
She told Sky News: "I don't think talking about punishments, even as a former chief whip, is the constructive way forward here."
She later added: "It's always the case in legislation that you introduce the Bill, you have a second reading on the principles, and then you think about the detail as you take that through all of its stages in Parliament. I'm sure that that will continue to happen."
She also said there would be a review of the personal independence payments system from social security minister Sir Stephen Timms.
