Keir Starmer Faces Rebellion of 120+ Labour MPs Over £5 Billion Welfare Cuts Ahead of Tuesday Vote With Concessions on PIP

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has faced a major rebellion within his Labour Party over government plans to cut disability and sickness benefits as part of a broader welfare reform bill aimed at saving £5 billion annually by the end of the decade. The controversy began with the resignation of Labour MP Vicky Foxcroft from her role as government whip in protest against the proposed cuts. Subsequently, over 120 Labour MPs, including senior backbenchers and committee chairs, signed a reasoned amendment to block the bill entirely, citing concerns that the reforms could push up to 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children. Despite the mounting opposition, Starmer initially vowed to press ahead with the welfare reforms and confirmed that a vote on the bill would take place in the House of Commons.

However, facing the threat of a humiliating defeat and internal party division, Downing Street entered into negotiations with rebel MPs. These talks resulted in Starmer offering major concessions, particularly on the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments and Universal Credit provisions, which were expected to reduce the number of people pushed into poverty by 100,000, lowering the estimate to around 150,000. The concessions were described by some Labour rebels as substantial, potentially saving the bill from defeat, though dissent within the party remained. Critics including former rebel MPs and committee chairs expressed that the concessions did not go far enough. On the eve of the vote, Labour MP Rachel Maskell tabled a new reasoned amendment backed by 35 Labour MPs and 138 organizations, aiming to defeat the bill. Starmer maintained that the revised welfare reforms strike the right balance and are a moral imperative to fix a system he described as failing millions. The vote was scheduled for Tuesday, with the government determined to proceed despite ongoing internal opposition and calls for further changes. The welfare reforms and the associated political turmoil represent a significant leadership challenge for Starmer less than a year into his premiership.