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Fresh Labour rebellion brews over Reeves’ welfare cuts with sickness benefits AND jobless pay at risk

A MAJOR Labour rebellion is brewing over plans to push hundreds of thousands of long-term sick Brits back into jobs.

Ministers are braced for a party split ahead of a looming announcement on contentious welfare reforms.

British pound coins and banknotes.
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Tough new rules could force 2.4 million claimants currently off work sick to start preparing for employment[/caption]
Liz Kendall, UK Work and Pensions Secretary, at a cabinet meeting.
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Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall[/caption]

Dozens of MPs are backing the shake-up, insisting Britain has a “moral duty” to cut the spiralling sickness benefit bill.

But angry left-wingers are already gearing up for a battle, warning brutal cuts could push vulnerable disabled people into poverty.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall could announce as early as tomorrow tough new rules that would force 2.4 million claimants currently off work sick to start preparing for employment.

Under the reforms, hundreds of thousands could face cuts to their benefits if they refuse to engage in job-prep activities.

Treasury bosses eye savings of £5billion from tightening rules around personal independence payments and dramatically increasing benefit reassessments.

Pro-reform backbenchers last night vowed to support these “hard choices”.

In a letter, a group of 36 Labour MPs calling themselves the “Get Britain Working Group” insisted the controversial reforms are “a truly progressive endeavour.”

They wrote: “We believe reforming our broken system is not only necessary, but also a truly progressive endeavour.”

But on the Left, dozens of MPs are planning to rebel and want to send a letter to the Treasury and the PM ahead of the Spring Statement.

Labour’s Rachael Maskell, the MP for York Central, warned against “draconian cuts”, urging ministers not to “start with the stick”.

She said: “What I am most concerned about is the narrative. I’m getting letters from constituents who are very, very worried about losing their benefits.

“It feels like the Government is getting the bad news out of the way before the spending review.

“I want the Treasury to listen at this point, and give us the guarantee that our constituents who need state support will be helped and not frightened.”

Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden said on Sunday the current welfare system was “not fair on the taxpayer”.

He told Sky News: “We are the Labour Party. The clue is in the name. We cannot be relaxed about every year, hundreds of thousands more people going on these benefits.”

Insisting that “we’ve got to reform the system”, Mr McFadden said ministers “can’t allow” further rises in sickness claims and said 200,000 of the long-term sick were already willing to work if offered help.

He added: “We’ve got a duty to put that support in place; that will be better for them, and it will get the bill down for the country.”

Under current trajectories, Britain is set to spend £20 billion more on sickness and disability benefits in just five years.

Official figures show there are 270,000 young people aged 16 to 34 who are not working due to long-term sickness and mental health conditions. 

This number has surged by 60,000 (26 per cent) in the past year alone, according to the DWP.

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Former Premier League star rushed to hospital due to ‘rapid heartbeat’

Aleksandar Mitrovic is being observed by specialists (Picture: Instagram)

Al-Hilal’s Aleksandar Mitrovic missed training due to an abnormal heart rhythm, the Saudi Pro League champions said on Sunday after local media reported the Serbia striker had been taken to hospital.

Mitrovic returned from a hamstring injury that had kept him out since January and scored in a 2-0 win at Al-Fayha on Friday.

‘The medical staff has decided to rest Aleksandar Mitrovic from Sunday’s training, due to feeling fatigue and arrhythmias,’ Al-Hilal said in a statement.

‘He will be observed by specialists, as his case will be monitored constantly.’

Jorge Jesus’s side face Pakhtakor in the second leg of their AFC Champions League Elite last-16 tie on Tuesday after a shock 1-0 loss in Uzbekistan last week.

The Saudi club did not say if Mitrovic would be involved in Tuesday’s match.

Mitrovic marked his return to action following a two-month injury layoff last week by scoring a late goal in Al-Hilal’s 2-0 win at Al-Fayha in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Ahli v Al Hilal - King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia - October 5, 2024 Al Hilal's Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
Aleksandar Mitrovic has scored 13 goals this season (Credits: REUTERS)
Fulham FC v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League
Aleksandar Mitrovic was a hero to Fulham fans during his time in the Premier League (Picture: Getty)

The Serbian forward, who was injured in a loss against Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Cup quarter-finals in January, scored his 13th goal in 14 games in SPL.

Mohamed Kanno opened the scoring early for Jorge Jesus’s side, and Mitrovic sealed Al-Hilal’s win with a close range strike in the 89th minute. VAR confirmed the goal after the check.

‘It has been tough two and half months for me, had some problems with my hamstring, injury… after injury,’ Mitrovic told SSC Sports.

‘I worked really hard to come back… I can help my teammates… happy with the goal.’

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Struggling Man Utd star Joshsua Zirkzee receives brutal snub from Ronald Koeman

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Arsenal - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - March 9, 2025 Manchester United's Joshua Zirkzee reacts REUTERS/Phil Noble EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER DETAILS..
Joshua Zirkzee has been left out of the Netherlands squad (Credits: REUTERS)

Joshua Zirkzee has been told he has been left out of the Netherlands squad by Ronald Koeman because he simply isn’t good enough.

The 23-year-old has endured a difficult first season at Old Trafford following his summer transfer from Bologna.

United were reportedly ready to cut ties with the striker in January but the forward has worked hard to restore his reputation after he was hauled off in the first half of December’s defeat against Newcastle.

Zirkzee has certainly shown flashes of promise in recent weeks but it still hasn’t been enough to convince Koeman he is worthy of a place in his squad despite a striker shortage.

‘He wasn’t in the preliminary selection because I don’t think he’s good enough at the moment,’ Koeman explained, bluntly.

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‘Especially scanning when turning or passing often goes wrong. Yes, in principle form and fitness are always leading, but that is not always possible.

‘We have a lot of central defenders and midfielders, but we are somewhat limited up front.

EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists (outside the EU), club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 45 images (+15 in extra time). No use to emulate moving images. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications/services. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Conor Molloy/ProSports/Shutterstock (15186324ar) Joshua Zirkzee (11) of Manchester United sees his effort saved by David Raya (22) of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford, Manchester Manchester United v Arsenal, Premier League - 09 Mar 2025
Joshua Zirkzee was one of several Manchester United players to be denied by David Raya (Credits: Conor Molloy/ProSports/Shutterst)

‘But even then, I still think that you have to earn your selection, and I think he doesn’t deserve that now, but that could be the case again in another period.’

In fairness to Koeman, Zirkzee did little to suggest he will be missed by the Dutch in their upcoming World Cup qualifiers after another confusing performance against Arsenal on Sunday.

Gabriel and William Saliba had little difficulty in containing United’s main outlet whose display drew ire from United legend Paul Scholes.

EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Paul Currie/Colorsport/Shutterstock (15183701cs) Football - 2024 / 2025 Premier League - Manchester United vs Arsenal - Old Trafford - Sunday 9th March 2025 Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United looks dejected Manchester United v Arsenal, Premier League, Football, Old Trafford, Manchester, UK - 09 Mar 2025
Joshua Zirkzee endured a frustrating afternoon against Arsenal(Credits: Paul Currie/Colorsport/Shutterst)

‘Both teams are in desperate need of a striker,’ Scholes told Premier League Productions.

“Zirkzee I thought was a little bit disappointing today. I’m not sure he’s a number nine or a number ten.

“I’m not really sure what Zirkzee brings to the team. Rasmus Hojlund is obviously still having his issues but both teams are crying out for attacking players.”

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