Tories slam Labour's benefits U-turn for creating a 'welfare trap'

Kemi Badenoch today said those on benefits with 'low-level conditions like anxiety' should be encouraged 'back into work' as she slammed Labour's welfare U-turn.

The Tory leader tore into Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer after he caved over planned reforms in the face of a major backbench rebellion by his MPs.

He had wanted to restrict access to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and cut the health element of Universal Credit in a bid to save £5billion in benefits spending.

But 126 Labour MPs signed an amendment that would have halted the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill in its tracks.

It had been estimated that 800,000 people would have been denied the 'daily living' component of PIP - the main disability benefit - under the planned tightening of rules.