Starmer 'backtracks on benefits eligibility' but insists welfare cuts

PM'S CONCESSIONS TO WIN OVER REBELS

- By Jonathan Walker and Christian Calgie

SIR Keir Starmer has caved in to Labour rebels and performed a humiliating climb-down ahead of next week’s vote on welfare reforms, it was reported last night.

Despite the PM’s pledge that he would not change course, there were widespread claims that he has made several concessions to his mutinous MPs, amounting to a cost of around £3billion. This would more than halve the total savings originally intended by his benefits cuts and leave Chancellor Rachel Reeves with yet another black hole to fill in her autumn Budget.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank said Ms Reeves would need to “raise taxes or find other savings” to cover the shortfall caused by the reported concession.

Among the changes is an apparent promise that no one currently claiming a Personal Independence Payment will lose out. Instead changes to eligibility will apply to new applicants — a move that will trim £1.5billion to £2billion off the original £4.6billion saving.

Reform of the Universal Credit disability top-up will also only apply to new applicants, potentially costing Ms Reeves another £1billion by 2029.

The Prime Minister is also said to have agreed to consult disability activist groups ahead of a review of benefit entitlement being led by minister Stephen Timms.

Sir Keir had faced potential defeat in Tuesday’s crunch Commons vote on welfare.

But one hard-Left MP said speculation of “massive concessions” on the cuts was overblown. Apsana Begum, who was elected as a

Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse then later suspended from the party, described the backtracking by the PM as “tiny”.