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  "path": "/politics/keir-starmer-accused-bending-backbenchers-plans-water-down-benefits-checks",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-31T16:44:24.000Z",
  "site": "https://www.gbnews.com",
  "tags": [
    "Keir Starmer's welfare bill torn apart amid plans to 'water down' benefits checks",
    "Chris Philp skewered by Camilla Tominey on Tory failure to increase face-to-face benefit assessments",
    "Camilla Tominey astounded as Pat McFadden vows to increase face-to-face PIP checks to '30 per cent'",
    "The GB News Editorial Charter"
  ],
  "textContent": "\n\n\nJeff Banks has launched a scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer over his plans to \"make it easier\" for Britons to claim benefits, branding him \"weak\".\n\nSpeaking to GB News, the fashion designer and broadcaster accused the Prime Minister of \"bending to the backbenchers\" with the move.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nSir Keir has come under fire over plans to \"water down\" checks on benefit claimants, as the welfare system continues to balloon under a record backlog of mental health cases.\n\nOfficials are warning that the assessment system is at risk of \"complete collapse\", as a surge in the new Pip claimants is driving delays with a record 3.9 million people now claiming the benefit.\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nTRENDING\n\nStories\n\nVideos\n\nYour Say\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nReacting to the move, Mr Banks told GB News that Sir Keir has \"buckled under the pressure\" of Labour MPs.\n\nHe said: \"I think it's more of Keir Starmer bending to the backbenchers. About a year ago, he actually said that he was going to clamp down on welfare benefits, and under pressure, he's now actually buckled yet again.\n\n\"So I think it's just an indication of a weak Prime Minister.\"\n\nMr Banks highlighted the staggering cost of benefits on the taxpayer each year: \"We spend probably about £340billion a year on welfare. That is equivalent to all the money that we actually collect in tax, we spend on welfare.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nThe broadcaster told GB News that watering down the benefits checks is simply a \"sticking plaster\" over the surging benefits bill facing the Government.\n\nHe explained: \"Young people are leaving school, leaving university, and they can't get a job. They then as an alternative will actually claim that they're stressed or whatever, get signed off and they join the Pip payments.\n\n\"So all this hokum about let's solve the problem by actually moving when we reassess them, not in nine months time, but in four years time or six years time, that is putting a sticking plaster on it.\"\n\nMr Banks warned that the decision by Sir Keir could in fact increase the benefits bill even further.\n\n### LATEST DEVELOPMENTS\n\n\n\n\n  * Keir Starmer's welfare bill torn apart amid plans to 'water down' benefits checks\n  * Chris Philp skewered by Camilla Tominey on Tory failure to increase face-to-face benefit assessments\n  * Camilla Tominey astounded as Pat McFadden vows to increase face-to-face PIP checks to '30 per cent'\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nHe cautioned: \"And the problem isn't going away, that's going to stick, and that's actually going to lift the bill over ten years by £46billion.\n\n\"The saving that you actually make on staff that are being overstretched is £1.9billion. That's the saving in staff time as distinct from spending another £41billion.\"\n\nMr Banks called on Sir Keir to \"resign\" over his latest \"weak\" move.\n\nHe concluded: \"To me, it's a nonsense, weak, Prime Minister. He's got to go.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n###\n\n\n\n\nDefending the Labour Government, former Labour Minister Bill Rammell argued that there \"is some logic\" to the \"watering down\" of the move.\n\nHe told GB News: \"First of all, the system is not out of control. We spend about two per cent less on welfare as a proportion of GDP today than we did in 2010.\n\n\"And this change is driven by the numbers, and there is some logic to this, that the changes will save money.\"\n\nMr Rammell assured that the changes will \"free up staff time\" for more face-to-face assessments.\n\nHe said: \"These are people who are eligible, but then having a bigger gap before they're tested again. That will free up staff time so there's more face-to-face interviews, which I think are critical in really getting our people genuinely eligible for benefit.\"\n\n###\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n**Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter**",
  "title": "Keir Starmer accused of 'bending to his backbenchers' over plans to 'water down' benefits checks: 'He's weak!'"
}