MPs Have Passed Labour's Welfare Bill – But There Is Trouble Ahead For Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer leaves 10 Downing Street to attend PMQs this afternoon.Keir Starmer spent this afternoon in his happy place, rubbing shoulders with Emmanuel Macron and playing the global statesman.The pair held talks in 10 Downing Street as the French president’s three-day state visit to the UK continued.Among the topics discussed were how both governments can work together to end the small boats crisis, support Ukraine and increase bilateral trade and investment.Starmer positively beamed as he stood on the steps of No.10 alongside Macron and the pair’s wives.However, the PM was brought back to earth with a thump later in the day.Although MPs comfortably passed the government’s Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments Bill by 336 votes to 242, dozens of Labour backbenchers thumbed their nose at the prime minister.Some 47 voted against the legislation, with a further 14 abstaining.That is despite Starmer making a series of concessions which mean the bill itself bears little resemblance to what it did originally.Plans to make it harder to claim Personal Independence Payments (PIP) have been kicked into the long grass, a move which removed almost all of the £5 billion of savings the bill was meant to deliver.Nevertheless, Labour rebels remain unhappy at cuts to the health element of universal credit – and were willing to defy their leader and the party whips in order to register their unhappiness.Keir Starmer and wife Victoria welcome French president Emmanuel Macron and wife Brigitte to 10 Downing Street.And while Starmer’s 165-seat Commons majority meant he ultimately prevailed on this occasion, that may not always be the case.The rebels have set their sights on the removal of the two-child benefit cap, while government plans to slash the amount of money spent on helping children with special education needs and disabilities (SEND) will also be hugely controversial.A No.10 insider admitted to HuffPost UK that “the handling of the welfare stuff was bad”, but insisted lessons would be learned for future votes.But he added: “In reality, we don’t have a majority of 165. We’re never going to win over the socialist campaign group who just don’t like Keir, and those sitting on very small majorities are difficult to whip as well.“But there will be others among the welfare rebels who we can get back on board with a decent handling plan.”After just a year as PM, Keir Starmer already finds himself at odds with a significant chunk of his own MPs.The bad news for him is that things are unlikely to get any easier from now on.Related...Another Blow For Starmer As Labour's Welfare Reforms Draw Bleak Poverty Warning From UNMinister Warns Labour Rebels That Watering Down Welfare Cuts Came 'At A Cost'Exclusive: Labour Rebels Set Their Sights On Lifting 2-Child Benefit Cap After Welfare U-Turn

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