Starmer Faces Labour Rebellion Over £5bn Welfare Cuts

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a significant rebellion within his Labour Party over planned welfare cuts aimed at saving £5 billion annually by tightening disability payments and Universal Credit eligibility. Over 120 Labour MPs, including prominent figures like Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, have signed an amendment threatening to block the welfare reform bill, arguing the cuts will push more people into poverty and exclude vulnerable groups. In response, Starmer and Downing Street are engaging in talks with backbench MPs and considering concessions such as speeding up payment support and reviewing the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment process to prevent an embarrassing Commons defeat. Despite initial resistance to altering the legislation, the government is now open to softening certain criteria, although it has ruled out abandoning the reforms entirely. The rebellion underscores broader dissatisfaction within Labour ranks about the approach to welfare reform and calls for more inclusive decision-making, with some MPs blaming the Prime Minister's chief of staff for the disconnect. Starmer remains defiant, characterizing the opposition as "noise," but the pressure has led to potential policy adjustments ahead of the crucial vote next week.