Labour rebel ‘couldn’t look my mum in the eyes’ and vote for Starmer’s welfare cuts - Divisions in the Labour Party are emerging over plans to cut benefits for the long term sick and disabled

Sir Keir Starmer has seemingly been forced to delay his plan to cut benefits after being spooked by a potential Labour rebellion. As many as 80 Labour MPs were preparing to defy the Prime Minister over his plan to overhaul Britain's "spiralling" welfare system.

Keir Starmer has urged MPs to be realistic as he moved to crush a rebellion over planned massive welfare cuts planned for later this month in a speech to MPs in the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP).The prime minister has launched a preemptive strike as Labour MPs have privately voiced disquiet about plans by chancellor Rachel Reeves to slash benefits for the disabled and long term sick as she tries to balance the books.

Sir Keir Starmer has warned Labour MPs that the Government could not “shrug our shoulders and look away” from problems in the welfare system and elsewhere amid backbench concerns over expected reforms.