Will the PM cave in and axe the two-child benefit cap?

Keir Starmer's first big showdown with the Labour left in government came as a group of rebels voted for a King's Speech amendment calling for the two-child benefit cap to be scrapped.

- ARCHIE MITCHELL

The ruthless prime minister, with the confidence of a man who had just led Labour to a landslide election win, suspended seven of his own MPs. Starmer wanted to instil fear in those who might not be on board with his agenda in the future that rebellion would have consequences.

But a year on, Starmer is weakened. Labour MPs are emboldened after forcing their leader's hand over his controversial welfare cuts, and the two-child cap on benefits is likely to be next.

Implemented by austerity architect George Osborne, the limit, which restricts parents from claiming certain benefits for more than two of their children, is hated across the Labour Party. Critics say the cap punishes children, with experts predicting 470,000 could be lifted from poverty if Starmer scrapped it.

But how likely is it that the prime minister will give in to pressure and axe the cap?