PHEW TURN

Late change on benefits axe saves PM's blushes

- BY ANDREW QUINN

KEIR Starmer saw off a major rebellion in the House of Commons after he drastically watered down his welfare reforms at the 11th-hour.

MPs backed the disability benefit changes by 335 votes to 260 after the UK Government U-turned on its the main part of its plans.

DWP minister Stephen Timms announced just 90 minutes before the vote that it would delay plans to limit who is eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) until after a review. The change had been due to come into force in November 2026.

The late concession came as the Government faced a possible defeat in the House of Commons.

It followed a partial U-turn last week where the Government announced the changes to PIP would only apply to new claimants and rowed back on plans to cut the health-related element of Universal Credit.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn mocked the Prime Minister on social media after the second U-turn.