NOW IT'S 'UTTER CAPITULATION' OVER PM'S WELFARE BILL

KEMI Badenoch insists Sir Keir Starmer is not fit to govern the country as she lashed out at his “utter capitulation” over welfare.

- Martyn Brown Political Editor

The Tory leader branded the reforms “pointless” after the Prime Minister was hit by a major backbench rebellion.

Mrs Badenoch also blasted the Labour leader's “shambolic” track record since entering No 10.

Her onslaught came as Sir Keir was forced into a second climb-down in a week, shelving controversial disability benefit reforms to stave off a revolt. Ministers have now scrapped plans to tighten rules for personal independence payments after furious backbench­ ers warned that they would sink the bill.

In the end, MPs voted the legisla­ tion through by a majority of 75, with 335 in favour and 260 against.

But it was a damaging rebellion, with 49 Labour MPs refusing to give the bill a second reading.

And many stood up in the Commons to speak against their Government. Rachael Maskell called the proposals: “Dickensian cuts from another era.”

While Mary Kelly Foy said of the tweaked bill: “These proposals are so unfair. How can we be asked to vote for a system that has been tweaked to penalise people based on when they got ill, or when they get more ill?”

Ian Lavery simply declared: “This is crazy, man, outrageous, man.” And Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker attacked the “incoherent and shambolic nature” of the process. It marks the biggest revolt of Sir Keir’s premiership so far – the sixth biggest Labour rebellion in history – and heaps fresh pressure on his authority as he enters his second year in Downing Street.

Mrs Badenoch said: “They should bin it, do their homework, and come back with something serious. Starmer cannot govern.”

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall insisted the Labour Party was “100%” behind the PM, but told broadcasters there were “les­ sons to be learned” after MPs fought the policy changes.