Peers defeat welfare reform plans
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Government suffered a defeat over its welfare reform proposals tonight as peers supported a move to exempt child benefit from the £26,000 benefits cap.
Peers voted by 252 to 237 in favour of an amendment introduced by the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Rt Rev John Packer, which received Labour backing.
He said: "It cannot be right for the cap to be the same for a childless couple as for a couple with children. Child benefit is the most appropriate way to right this unfairness."
And he argued that, in effect, the cap denied child benefit payments to people whose other benefits had reached £500 a week.
"This cap is not simply targeted at wealthy families living in large houses," he said. "It will damage those who have to pay high rents because often that rent has increased substantially in the course of their occupancy of that house."
The defeat was the fifth the Government has received on the Bill, including three on one day earlier this month.
But ministers saw off a Labour-led move earlier today to exempt families threatened by homelessness from a benefits cap by 250 votes to 222, majority 28.
The Government is facing a concerted attack from Labour peers, Church of England bishops and some Liberal Democrat rebels who want concessions.
Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown warned yesterday that the plans to cap benefits were "completely unacceptable" in their current form.
PA
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments