Following the growing number of Labour MPs that were publicly going against the governments plans to reform the welfare bill, the government has conceded and had to make a change.

The change, or “U-turn”, would mean that stricter criteria on claiming personal independence payment (PIP) only applies to new claimants. It also planned to freeze the health related part of universal credit, however this will also now rise in line with inflation and Ministers will carry out a review of the PIP assessment process.

However, some Labour MPs still feel like this isn’t far enough.

This latest U-turn represents another blow to what Sir Keir Starmer was hoping to do. Almost a year after winning a landslide, the U-Turns continue.

It does come down to a question of whether U-Turns are a good thing or not. When the government have to make a change, you could say that they have listened or observed and therefore are acting on the effects of their plans. There are many times that we all thought the Tories should have done that over the last 14 years – I’m sure they feel like they should have as well.

But then it does also beg the question, if the government continues to change it’s mind on things – where will the money come from? and what really is their plan?

Our economy needs stability and confidence. Unfortunately a government that changes it’s mind does not help with that.

On the areas that the government have made a U-Turn, you could argue that the original plan the government put forward was not very Labour like. Yes we need to be careful with public finances, but to take money away from those who need it goes against the values of the party.

We need confidence in the government and a plan to lead us into the future, but occasionally it’s also a good sign that a government listens and changes. Perhaps it’s that these policies have all come at once and therefore it seems bad, but the government is getting there.

When the Tories left Downing Street almost a year ago, I think we all knew that this country was in a mess. There was no way Labour could have corrected everything that happened in the last 14 years over the course of a year.

So whilst every headline is about U-Turns, perhaps it might calm down from now on. We shall wait and see…….