Politics LIVE: Keir Starmer scrambles to quell backbench fury over welfare cuts
Sir Keir Starmer has returned to the UK from the NATO summit where there is a growing revolt over his welfare reforms. Cabinet ministers have been asking Labour MPs to take their name off a rebel amendment to the government's controversial welfare Bill, it is understood.
In an attempt to quell the mounting rebellion of more than 100 MPs across all wings of the party, Cabinet ministers were instructed to ring around the signatories of the amendment in a bid to get them to back the welfare cuts ahead of a planned vote next Tuesday. Sir Keir has suggested the revolt is “noises off” as he insisted he was able to read the mood of Labour MPs.
The Prime Minister admitted it was “tough going” to bring about change but said: “I am comfortable with reading the room and delivering the change the country needs.”
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“Colleagues are pretty resolute,” as one serving minister put it to Politico's Playbook newsletter.
They added: “Government must either pull the bill or offer major concessions to get through this.”
Ministers are discussing the prospect of further concessions to win over a growing list of Labour MPs poised to rebel against planned welfare reforms ahead of a crunch vote next week.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said talks between backbenchers and Government were “ongoing” on Wednesday night as Downing Street seeks to head off what would be Sir Keir Starmer’s first Commons defeat.
It came as six more Labour MPs added their names to an amendment that would halt the legislation in its tracks, arguing disabled people have not been properly consulted and further scrutiny of the changes is needed.
express.co.uk
