In a late climbdown as MPs prepared to vote, the Government shelved plans to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment (PIP), with any changes now only coming after a review of the benefit. Despite the late concession, there were 49 Labour rebels, the largest revolt so far of Starmer’s premiership.
Sir Keir Starmer managed a joke and a chuckle with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy on the frontbench on Tuesday night as he waited to vote on a humiliating climbdown on welfare. Onlookers were astonished.
Now, held hostage by his own backbenches, he needs do contradictory things. First, reassert his authority – and fast, perhaps by sacking Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall. The second is to both coddle his MPs while simultaneously making clear they can’t keep voting against spending cuts.
Kitty Donaldson is The i Paper’s Chief Political Commentator
Andrew Fisher: ‘Labour is wasting its large majority’
The shambolic denouement of his attempt to drive through £5bn of cuts to disability benefits yesterday in Parliament in the words of one Labour MP, “laid bare the incoherent nature of this process – it is the most unedifying spectacle I’ve ever seen”.
There has been a complete lack of judgment by figures in No.10, the Chancellor and the Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall. But the origins of Starmer’s crisis go beyond individual failures, and back to the gaping chasm at the heart of their election manifesto, which was bereft of the policies necessary to address the colossal mess they inherited from the Tories.
The next general election is four years away, but lessons need to be learned urgently. Labour is currently wasting its large majority and has squandered the goodwill of the electorate.
Hugo Gye: ‘Starmer is Labour’s only hope’
There is no question that Sir Keir Starmer’s authority has been diminished by the farce that has unfolded over his attempt to reform (and cut) benefits.
Because the problem for all of us is this: if Starmer cannot lead, then no one can.
What about a general election? Forget it: polls suggest a hung Parliament with Reform UK as the largest party, a recipe for even more chaos.
Hugo Gye is The i Paper’s Political Editor
While his government has had a good story to tell on NHS waiting lists, defence spending and infrastructure, the chaos surrounding the welfare bill has exposed problems in party management and inside the Downing Street operation.
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If Starmer had one core message to sell to voters it would be easier to explain to his own MPs why they need to back his policies in parliament.
Jane Merrick is The i Paper’s Policy Editor
Ian Dunt: ‘This simply cannot go on’
This simply cannot go on. It must not. Unless there are big changes now, this will only be a prologue to what’s to come.
Ian Dunt is a columnist at The i Paper
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