Dozens of Labour MPs are set to rebel against the prime minister despite him making concessions last week.MPs have begun debating the government’s welfare reform bill in the Commons as Sir Keir Starmer faces the prospect of a major Labour rebellion.
The bill, which would see changes made to personal independence payment (Pip) and the health-related element of universal credit, is due to go to a crunch vote this evening.However, a new amendment designed to bring down the bill – which has the backing of at least 39 Labour MPs – has been accepted by the Speaker of the House of Commons. Leading rebel Rachel Maskell has warned ‘loads more’ MPs have told her they plan to vote against the government’s plans.Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall says the reforms fix “the broken benefits system”, while Tory leader Kemi Badenoch calls them “rushed”
It follows a U-turn last week in which the PM softened the package by limiting disability benefit cuts to only new claimants, among other tweaks. This recap looks at how we got here
