PM rejects pleas to put welfare bill on hold

Keir Starmer has said the government will stand firm on its welfare plans as ministers and party whips struggled to contain a growing Labour rebellion before next week's crunch vote.

- Pippa Crerar Aletha Adu

The tally of rebels already stood at 108 by yesterday morning and, as Labour heavy-hitters waded into the row, there were fears inside government that the number would rise and scupper Starmer's changes to benefits.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was among those urging the prime minister to drop his plans, warning they would "destroy the financial safety net" for millions of people. Some Labour frontbenchers could quit to vote against the plans.

While cabinet ministers were deployed to win over Labour rebels, some whips and government aides were accused by MPs of threatening deselection and suggesting a defeat could blow up the government. No 10 denied the claims.

The Labour rebels, including senior committee chairs, have tabled an amendment that calls for the government to pause the legislation and bring forward the promised £1bn to get more people into work first. If ministers do not agree, the rebels will try to vote the bill down.

The scale of the rebellion appeared to take Downing Street, and even some of the Labour backbenchers themselves, by surprise, amid concerns thousands of vulnerable people could be plunged into poverty as a result of losing disability benefits.

Starmer, however, said yesterday that he would press ahead with the overhaul, insisting there was a "clear moral case" for change.