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The Government was defeated last night because quite simply they tried to cross the basic line of British decency - Byrne
12 January 2012
Liam Byrne MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, following the Government’s three defeats in the House of Lords this evening, including over plans to force cancer patients back into work before they have had the chance to recover, said:
"The Government has been defeated tonight because quite simply they tried to cross the basic line of British decency.
"For months Labour has been determined to stop this cruel attack on cancer patients in its tracks. And today the House of Lords agreed. The Government’s proposal to cut paid for benefits for people still in chemotherapy crosses the basic test of fairness.
"In the year of the Beveridge Report's 70th Anniversary, this government has sought to break one of its core principles – a welfare state based on a fair contributory bargain. In seeking to break that bargain on the backs of cancer patients they have shown they have no interest in keeping that bargain.
"It’s clear that the Government have got this one wrong, and after these decisive defeats they should do the decent thing and take these proposals off the table."
Lord Bill McKenzie, Labour’s Work and Pensions Spokesman in the House of Lords, said:
"Tonight’s hat-trick of defeats have shown how badly out of touch this government is, and they show that there's a very clear divide on cancer patients. On one side there is Labour, 30 cancer charities and a majority in the House of Lords, and on the other there are the Tories, who today tried to force cancer sufferers back into work before they have had sufficient time to recover.
"For thousands of sick people every year, the Government's proposal would turn a health crisis into a financial catastrophe, yet Ministers have given no proper justification for them what so ever.
"Seeking to pinch pennies from cancer patients is pretty low stuff but when those same people have all already paid for them through national insurance it’s appalling."
