Has Keir Starmer finally mastered the art of the U-turn?

Keir Starmer has shrugged off his unwanted label as "Mr U-turn" after his retreats over the winter fuel allowance and a national inquiry into the grooming gangs scandal.

- Andrew Grice, The Independent

The prime minister's problem is that making one U-turn gives your party an appetite for more, and anxious Labour MPs are feeling ravenous. Today, the government is publishing its Bill to reduce the welfare budget by £5bn, including controversial cuts to disability and sickness benefits. More than 150 Labour MPs are unhappy about the cuts, and about 50 might oppose them. Ministers admit privately there will be “tweaks” — for example, disabled people will not lose their personal independence payment (PIP) for 13 weeks, rather than four—but they don't go far enough for the rebels.

In public, ministers are adamant there will be no further concessions and that any changes do not amount to a U-turn, not least because Rachel Reeves is relying on the savings to stay within her fiscal rules. However, more tweaks will almost certainly be offered before the crucial vote on the Bill early next month. Why do politicians fear headlines with the U-word? They like to look strong and in control of events - even though they know they are not, especially in the world of Trump 2.0. U-turns came to symbolise weakness in 1980 after Margaret Thatcher told Tory moderates who were demanding a change of course: “You turn if you want to; the lady's not for turning.”