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Hello, I'm Susan Hume and this is the Yesterday in Parliament podcast.

On Tuesday, the 1st of July, the government won a vote on its welfare reforms,

but only after announcing a further big concession.

While she was waiting to open the debate, the welfare secretary Liz Kendall,

sat at the end of the

government bench, reading rapidly through her speech, underlining bits, making the odd

tweak, fidgeting slightly. She knew she was fighting for every vote and the government's

credibility. So when her moment came, she stressed repeatedly that the government was paying heed to Labour MP's alarm.

Now, having listened seriously to concerns about our original proposals on the UC Health

Top, we have listened carefully to concerns that they wouldn't, we have listened to the concerns

that have been raised. So changes had already been promised.

The sickness element of universal credit would now not be frozen and the tighter rules for getting

the daily living allowance PIP would not apply to existing claimants only to new claims from

November of next year. Around the same time as the welfare minister, Sir Stephen Timms, was due to

report back following his review of Pip. Lots of MPs were perplexed by that timing. Labour's

Clive Betts was won. Wouldn't be far more logical to have the review, to produce it, to bring

at this House for agreement, and then to make the changes after that.

Sir Stephen Tims, who's respected for his long interest in welfare issues,

listened thoughtfully from his seat as Liz Kendall replied.

I understand why many members would like to see the results from the Tim's review

implemented before the four-point change takes effect.

...