Why PM will be back for another stab at welfare cuts

Asked to name the worst moment of his first year as prime minister, Keir Starmer spoke movingly about the death of his brother.

- ANDREW GRICE

If he had given a political answer - well, an honest one - it would surely have been his humiliating climbdown over cuts to disability benefits after a revolt by 126 Labour MPs.

Ministers still lick deep wounds, but tell me they have not given up on trying to reduce the ballooning welfare bill - set to rise from £313bn to £373bn by 2029-30. “It is unsustainable,” one said. “Any government would have to address it. We can’t give up on reform.”

Starmer admitted to a recent meeting of Labour’s national executive committee (NEC) his filleted legislation had not been handled well - a bit of an understatement. He promised a review by Stephen Timms, the minister for disability, would do better. Disabled people will play a key role, though, so it is hard to see how the review will recommend savings. Timms has said it is “not intended to deliver cuts”.

Fellow ministers are investing a lot of hope in the highly respected Timms. But he will need to be a miracle worker to keep everyone happy, producing a package supported by disability campaigners that also involves lower spending.