Keir Starmer Braced For Huge Labour Rebellion Over Welfare Cuts

Keir Starmer could be defeated in a crunch vote on the government's cuts to benefits.Keir Starmer is facing the biggest Labour rebellion of his time as prime minister unless the government backs down on cuts to disability benefits.The PM’s huge Commons majority could be wiped out in a crunch vote set for next month after more than 100 of the party’s MPs signed a letter urging ministers to think again.Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall unveiled the government’s “pathways to work” plan in March.Under the reforms, the eligibility criteria to qualify for personal independence payments (PIP) will be made tougher so that only the most disabled people will qualify for it.It is estimated that around 1 million people will lose out on the payment as a result.Other changes will see the top rate of Universal Credit paid to those who are unfit to work halved from £97 to £47 a week for new claimants.Kendall said the reforms would save taxpayers £5 billion and get more people off benefits and into work.A letter signed by the Labour rebels – who include a mixture of MPs elected last July and those who have been in the Commons for years – opposing the changes was delivered to government chief whip Alan Campbell on Tuesday.It called for the consultation on the government’s plans to be extended to include the PIP changes, and for a study into the impact of the measures to be published before MPs vote on them.It said: “Whilst these activities are undertaken, this bill should be delayed such that it may reflect the findings. We regret that we are unable to support a bill before this has taken place.”One backbencher who has signed the letter told HuffPost UK: “When the party – old and new – speaks as one to say this won’t fly, it’s time to listen and rethink.“MPs know poverty is bad for growth – they just wish ministers did.”The government’s working Commons majority is around 165, meaning it would take just over 80 Labour MPs to vote against the bill for the government to be defeated.A No.10 spokesperson said: “The government has set out a package of reforms to health and disability benefits that genuinely support people back into work.“We are grappling with the difficult issues that the Tories did nothing about, and getting on with delivering for the British people.”Related...Labour Slammed Over 'Simply Indefensible' £5 Billion Cuts To Disability Benefits'Let Me Finish': Liz Kendall Clashes With Trevor Phillips Over Government Benefit Crackdown

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