Starmer Faces Labour Revolt Over Welfare Overhaul Impacting 150,000

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces a significant challenge from within his Labour Party over welfare reforms aimed at disability benefits, with a substantial number of MPs threatening to oppose the government despite concessions that cost an estimated £3 billion. Although Starmer's government has revised the reforms to protect existing claimants, critics argue that the changes still risk pushing around 150,000 people into poverty, creating a two-tier system that imposes harsher restrictions on future disabled individuals. Key Labour figures, including rebel MPs and prominent mayors like Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan, have voiced strong opposition, with Burnham explicitly urging MPs to reject the bill, signaling internal party tensions and potential leadership ambitions. The controversy underscores a broader debate about balancing welfare state sustainability and support for vulnerable populations, with critics accusing the government of cruelty and abandoning core Labour values. Despite the concessions, campaigners and some MPs remain unconvinced, warning of ongoing public and legal pressure over the reforms. The episode marks a critical moment in Starmer's premiership, highlighting the difficulty of passing welfare changes that satisfy both fiscal and humanitarian concerns.