PM hopes welfare speech will curb rebel Labour MPs

Sir Keir Starmer has urged MPs to be realistic as he moved to crush a rebellion over massive welfare cuts planned for later this month in a speech to MPs in the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP).

- DAVID MADDOX, ARCHIE MITCHELL

The prime minister launched a preemptive strike last night as Labour MPs have privately voiced disquiet about plans by chancellor Rachel Reeves to slash benefits for the disabled and long-term sick as she tries to balance the books.

He warned MPs: “The real world is moving quickly and people look to their government not to be buffeted about by that change – not even to merely respond to it – but to seize it and shape it for the benefit of the British people.”

With Labour facing a tough by-election in Runcorn following the decision by MP Mike Amesbury to step down after being sentenced for assault, Sir Keir had an important message to get Labour MPs ready to fight their first real test since the election.

The meeting, though, began with the image of veteran Labour MP and longtime Starmer critic Diane Abbott being locked out after she turned up late.

The speech comes amid anger after Sir Keir’s instruction to the chancellor to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by cutting the size of the international aid budget to just 0.3 per cent of GDP.

There is also ongoing anger over the cuts to winter fuel payments for pensioners and the decision to extend inheritance tax to farmers.