The Government is being urged to abandon its welfare reforms after a triple defeat in the House of Lords.Peers considering the Welfare Reform Bill voted to protect cancer sufferers and disabled people from cuts.
The Government was also defeated by 234 to 186 (majority 48), over a plan to limit to one year the time people can claim the employment and support allowance (ESA). Peers agreed to replace the one-year cap with the ability for the Government to specify a limit of no less than two years.
The Government was also defeated when peers voted by 222 to 166 (majority 56) to accept another amendment by Lord Patel to remove the time limit on ESA payments from people receiving treatment for cancer.
