Welfare bill passes as bruised PM backtracks to avert Labour revolt

Week of chaos ends with Starmer dropping cuts to disability payments

- Pippa Crerar Jessica Elgot Peter Walker

Keir Starmer was forced to abandon the central plank of his welfare bill to get it past its first Commons hurdle last night in a dramatic climbdown that ultimately resulted in disability benefit cuts being dropped to avert a Labour rebellion.

After a week of chaos that has left the prime minister's political authority badly damaged, Labour MPs were finally won over by a commitment to shelve plans for deep cuts to personal independence payments (Pip).

But while the controversial bill passed its second reading, the saga exposed tensions between No 10 and Labour backbenchers and created a huge headache for Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, who will now have to find a further £2.5bn of savings at her autumn budget.

It also raised serious questions about the government's handling of the welfare reform bill, with fingers being pointed at the Downing Street political operation, Labour whips and the prime minister himself for the bruising affair.