UK PM Faces Major Labour Rebellion Over Welfare Reforms

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is facing a significant rebellion within his Labour Party over proposed welfare reforms aimed at overhauling the benefits system. Despite making concessions, including protecting existing claimants of Personal Independence Payments and the health element of Universal Credit, around 39 to over 50 Labour MPs are expected to rebel against the bill, potentially marking the largest revolt of Starmer's premiership. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall defended the reforms as necessary to fix a "broken benefits system" left by the previous government and to encourage more people into good jobs, while also announcing an additional £300 million in employment support for the sick and disabled. The government has scaled back its expected savings from the reforms from £5 billion to £2.5 billion by 2030, a move that critics say will still push an estimated 150,000 people into poverty. Labour ministers and Starmer himself have worked to persuade MPs to support the bill, but concerns remain about the creation of a "three-tier" system dividing existing claimants, new claimants, and those reassessed in the future. The vote comes as Starmer approaches the first anniversary of his time in office, with the welfare debate highlighting tensions within his party over the direction of social policy.