Keir Starmer could face the biggest rebellion of his premiership with dozens of Labour MPs angry at his plans to cut billions from the rising welfare bill and threatening to vote against freezing disability benefits.

In a bid to avoid a damaging showdown with MPs and peers, Downing Street began inviting groups of  backbenchers to meetings on Wednesday, stressing the “moral case” for changes designed to get people back to work as they made the case for painful changes.

The Guardian understands that dozens of MPs have urged the government to think again. Many are particularly concerned that  is set to go further than the former Tory chancellor George Osborne who, despite cutting working-age benefits for four years, kept the personal independence payments (Pip) rising.

Some of those in the meetings revealed that No 10 officials appeared taken aback by the scale of the anger, especially from new MPs who have been unstintingly loyal.

Senior government figures have signalled in private conversations that they may still be open to change, but any climbdown could leave the chancellor with a major fiscal hole to fill.

Government officials believe that freezing the Pip would almost certainly require a vote on primary legislation, as certain benefits are protected by the Social Security Administration Act 1992, which states they should rise by inflation each year.

Given the government’s large majority, there is little chance of it failing to push through its planned changes to the disability benefit system, but some Labour MPs said they would nevertheless struggle to vote for any measures that take money away from the poorest in society.

One told the Guardian: “We’re in government and I feel utterly useless. They  will understand our frustrations, though largely private, when we get a chance to vote.”

Ministers hope plans to reform employment schemes will help to win over some worried Labour MPs.

About £1bn is expected to be ploughed into helping the long-term sick back into work after the welfare secretary faced down opposition from the Treasury ahead of £6bn cuts to the UK benefits budget.

Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, is understood to have secured the savings to pay for employment support despite tensions with the Treasury, which was said to have questioned the value of the schemes.

At prime minister’s questions, Starmer told MPs that he understood the worries of disabled people and their families over the welfare cuts. He added: “But we inherited a system which is broken, it is indefensible, economically and morally, and we must and we will reform it.

“We will have clear principles, we will protect those who need protecting. We will also support those who can work back to work, but Labour is the party of work, we’re also the party of equality and fairness.”

Kendall is now expected to announce the plans in a Commons statement early next week. Government insiders acknowledged that she will have a “hard argument to make” over disability benefits, but believe the public supports welfare cuts more generally.

“While the next election won’t be won or lost on welfare, we do need to show progress on limiting the rising bill,” one source said. They argued that the bill for disability benefits, which rose by nearly £13bn to £48bn between 2019-20 and 2023-24, is unsustainable.

Under current plans, the bulk of almost £6bn of cuts will come from the Pip, which is not linked to work. Eligibility criteria for the key disability benefit will be tightened, while some Pip payments are expected to be frozen. Despite some early speculation, the benefit will not be means tested.

There are also expected to be smaller cuts including raising the basic rate of universal credit for those looking for – or in – work, while cutting it for those judged as unfit for work, as an incentive for some disabled people to seek employment.



Ministers hope plans to reform employment schemes will help to win over some worried Labour MPs.

About £1bn is expected to be ploughed into helping the long-term sick back into work after the welfare secretary faced down opposition from the Treasury ahead of £6bn cuts to the UK benefits budget.

Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, is understood to have secured the savings to pay for employment support despite tensions with the Treasury, which was said to have questioned the value of the schemes.

At prime minister’s questions, Starmer told MPs that he understood the worries of disabled people and their families over the welfare cuts. He added: “But we inherited a system which is broken, it is indefensible, economically and morally, and we must and we will reform it.

“We will have clear principles, we will protect those who need protecting. We will also support those who can work back to work, but Labour is the party of work, we’re also the party of equality and fairness.”

Kendall is now expected to announce the plans in a Commons statement early next week. Government insiders acknowledged that she will have a “hard argument to make” over disability benefits, but believe the public supports welfare cuts more generally.

“While the next election won’t be won or lost on welfare, we do need to show progress on limiting the rising bill,” one source said. They argued that the bill for disability benefits, which rose by nearly £13bn to £48bn between 2019-20 and 2023-24, is unsustainable.

Under current plans, the bulk of almost £6bn of cuts will come from the Pip, which is not linked to work. Eligibility criteria for the key disability benefit will be tightened, while some Pip payments are expected to be frozen. Despite some early speculation, the benefit will not be means tested.

There are also expected to be smaller cuts including raising the basic rate of universal credit for those looking for – or in – work, while cutting it for those judged as unfit for work, as an incentive for some disabled people to seek employment.


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