And government sources confirmed that, despite ministers paying lip service to the need for welfare reform, there will be no legislation on the issue in the next King's Speech in May. Shadow Chancellor, Sir Mel Stride said: 'By shelving welfare reform, Labour has chosen welfare over work. Rachel Reeves attempted to trim £5billion from the PIP bill last year by tightening the eligibility rules. Government sources insisted that ministers have not abandoned welfare reform. Sources said the absence of welfare reform from the King's Speech did not rule out ministers bringing forward legislation later.