Keir Starmer Hit By Fresh Blow As Labour Rebellion Against Welfare Cuts Grows

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer addresses a press conference during the NATO summit in The Hague.A rebellion by Labour MPs against the government’s plans to slash the welfare budget has grown despite a concerted campaign to win over those opposed to the changes.In another huge blow for Keir Starmer, the number of backbenchers who have added their names to an amendment which aims to block the reforms has increased to 126.Downing Street is now locked in a race against time to come up with a series of concessions to persuade the rebel MPs not to vote against the government in the Commons next Tuesday.If those attempts fail, No.10 could be forced to pull the vote entirely to avoid a humiliating defeat for Starmer.Under the government’s proposals, eligibility for personal independence payments (PIP) would be made more difficult, and Universal Credit would be cut. Overall, the changes would save the Treasury £5 billion.Ministers insist the package of reforms would also get a large number of benefit claimants off welfare and back into work.A further six Labour MPs added their names to the rebel amendment on Wednesday, including former frontbencher Toby Perkins.His decision is significant because he was campaign manager for work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall’s Labour leadership bid in 2015. In a statement posted on X, he said: “I recognise that our welfare system is in need of reform and there are many positive measures within this bill which I hope the government will continue to pursue.“However, I fear that eligibility for personal independence payment will hit too many disabled people, many of whom really need the payment in order to be able to access work or to cope with their disability.”Labour has a Commons majority of 165, meaning 83 MPs would need to vote against the government in order to defeat it.Therefore, the party’s whips need to reduce the rebellion by more than 40 within the next five days.Cabinet ministers, including chancellor Rachel Reeves, have been contacting the rebels directly urging them to think again, but so far those pleas have fallen on deaf ears.Starmer, who is now back in the UK after attending the Nato summit in The Hague, is now expected to join the effort to defeat the rebellion.Yesterday, he described the Labour opposition to the welfare reforms as “noises off” and insisted the party was still “pretty united”.Related...Starmer Insists He'll Lead Labour Into Next Election Amid Welfare RebellionExclusive: Commons Vote On Welfare Cuts Could Be Pulled To Avoid Humiliation For StarmerKeir Starmer Says He Won't Back Down On Welfare Cuts As Labour Rebellion Grows

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