The latest news and events from the LRC's 'Stop Welfare Reform{/exp:xml_encode}' campaign. http://l-r-c.org.uk/ en-GB Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:34:23 GMT http://l-r-c.org.uk/press/anti-poor-prejudice-and-political-posturing-reigns-in-parliament-says-john-/ The Government today (1 Feb) reversed seven House of Lords amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill, and invoked a rarely used parliamentary statute to prevent any further consideration of the Bill. Restrictions to disabled people’s benefits, including cancer patients, and a cap on the amount a household can claim were the centrepieces of the government’s bill – despite massive opposition from the House of Lords, the Labour Party, welfare organisations, charities and disability campaigners. Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:06:03 GMT http://l-r-c.org.uk/news/story/urgent-action-stop-the-welfare-bill/ MPs will be debating the Welfare Reform Bill on Wednesday 1 February 2012, which is the day after the Lords final debate. This is quite clearly a tactic to prevent campaigning and lobbying of MPs which is an attack on democracy. There are important issues at stake - protecting the disabled, including young disabled people and those with cancer, people on housing benefit, lone parents and larger families (details below). Sun, 30 Oct 2011 17:23:48 GMT http://l-r-c.org.uk/lrctv/watch/john-mcdonnell-mp-speaking-at-dpac-conference-29oct11/ Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:00:04 GMT http://l-r-c.org.uk/news/story/defend-welfare-stop-workfare/ The welfare state is under increased attack from the coalition government. Since coming to power they have announced over £20bn in welfare cuts, while giving £25bn in tax breaks to businesses. The LRC is urging all members to fight against attacks on welfare by challenging anti-welfare attitudes within the Labour Party and in wider society (download new LRC flyer ‘Defend Welfare’) and by taking direct action in conjunction with other organisations. If you are a Labour Party member, please get this model motion passed in your CLP. Wed, 15 Jun 2011 04:11:13 GMT http://l-r-c.org.uk/news/story/fight-the-welfare-bill-lobby-your-mp-today/ The Welfare Reform Bill passed its 3rd reading in the House of Commons on 15 June by 288 votes to 238. Although it passed, our campaigning helped ensure that Labour MPs voted against it, having abstained at 2nd reading stage. However, recent comments by Ed Miliband and Liam Byrne prove we have to fight to continue to move party policy away from the workfare model promoted by New Labour and now being developed by the coalition. Wed, 09 Mar 2011 22:14:54 GMT http://l-r-c.org.uk/news/story/frontbench-abstains-but-left-mps-vote-against-welfare-bil/ The Labour frontbench abstained on tonight’s vote on the Welfare Reform Bill. John McDonnell MP, LRC Chair, was among just 22 MPs who voted against the Bill. John tweeted, “Ed Miliband decided PLP should only vote for amendment to Tories Welfare cuts Bill & then abstain.It is so appalling I am voting against”. The LRC previously wrote to all Labour MPs urging them to vote against the Bill. Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:23:45 GMT http://l-r-c.org.uk/lrctv/watch/dpac-speaking-against-welfare-reform-bill-on-international-womens-day/ Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:56:31 GMT http://l-r-c.org.uk/news/story/labour-must-campaign-against-the-welfare-reform-bill/ MPs will debate Iain Duncan Smith’s Welfare Reform Bill on Wednesday 9 March. Ahead of the debate, the LRC has written to every Labour MP asking them to speak in the debate and oppose the Bill. Our Welfare Reform Bill briefing (which was sent to every Labour MP) sets out why the Bill should be opposed. Tue, 23 Nov 2010 16:08:43 GMT http://l-r-c.org.uk/news/story/support-the-open-letter-on-housing-benefit/ We believe current Government proposals are not fair or just. Cuts to Housing Benefit, replacing future secure and assured tenancies with time limited short hold tenancies and up to 80% of market rents, are an unfair and ill-conceived threat to tenants and would be a disaster for communities. Sat, 13 Nov 2010 06:49:49 GMT http://l-r-c.org.uk/news/story/fight-duncan-smiths-welfare-proposals/ Iain Duncan Smith has published a welfare white paper proposing a Universal Credit. Behind the rhetoric of simplification and fairness, it proposes a massive extension of workfare delivered by private contractors, paid by results. It also promises harsher conditionality to deal with ‘welfare dependency’ and ‘worklessness culture’. It follows £18 billion of welfare cuts announced in the June Budget and October spending review. Tue, 25 May 2010 08:21:33 GMT http://l-r-c.org.uk/press/cuts-coalition-government-launches-savage-stealth-attack-on-unemployed/ Cuts unveiled yesterday by the coalition Government have been exposed as a dramatic attack on unemployment by Labour leadership contender John McDonnell. Sat, 20 Jun 2009 07:18:58 GMT http://l-r-c.org.uk/news/story/lrc-meeting-at-morning-star-conference/ The LRC held a packed workshop under the title ‘Welfare for the Rich, Workfare for the Poor’ at the Morning Star conference ‘Surviving Capitalism’s Crisis’ on Saturday 20th June. Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:12:13 GMT http://l-r-c.org.uk/press/new-labours-tory-welfare-policies-prompt-labour-rebellion/ Labour MPs rebelled tonight against proposals in the Welfare Reform Bill that introduce workfare, attack the rights of lone parents and herald in further privatisation of the welfare state. John McDonnell MP, LRC Chair, said: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:00:30 GMT http://l-r-c.org.uk/press/left-vows-to-fight-welfare-bill-tooth-and-nail1/ The Government has today published its Welfare Reform Bill. The Bill contains measures that will see income support abolished, further privatisation of welfare services and attacks on entitlement to lone parents, disabled people and those unemployed. Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:08:41 GMT http://l-r-c.org.uk/news/story/left-vows-to-fight-welfare-bill-tooth-and-nail/ The Government has today published its Welfare Reform Bill. The Bill contains measures that will see income support abolished, further privatisation of welfare services and attacks on entitlement to lone parents, disabled people and those unemployed.