Rebels threaten to defeat welfare bill ahead of vote

Labour MPs line up to demand changes to proposed reforms

- DAVID MADDOX POLITICAL EDITOR

Sir Keir Starmer still faces a damaging rebellion after ministers admitted that 150,000 people will still be pushed into poverty by benefit cuts.

With the prime minister’s authority on the line, his work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall unveiled amendments to benefit reforms yesterday in a bid to persuade Labour backbenchers not to vote down the bill in a crunch vote today.

Outside the Commons, the plans were also strongly criticised by senior figures including Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan. Mr Burnham said: “What’s been announced is half a U-turn, a 50 per cent U-turn. In my view I’d hope that MPs vote against the whole bill when it comes before parliament.”

Sir Sadiq said: “I think it drives too many people into poverty. It leads to a situation where those who need a safety net don’t have one. But also, I’ve met too many Londoners who have dignity, who do work, who through no fault of their own, need support from the state, and they’re really worried they'll lose that.”

Education secretary Bridget Phillipson was forced to defend Sir Keir’s record, insisting he will lead Labour into the next general election. In an interview with The Independent days before Labour marks its first year in power, she also said government had its “ups and downs” and suggested better times were ahead.

More than 130 Labour backbenchers had signed an amendment that would have effectively killed the legislation, but ministers were hoping a last-minute pledge to protect current personal independence payments (PIP) and other changes would end the rebellion.