Sir Keir Starmer is ready to retreat and offer concessions to rebel Labour MPs threatening to derail his welfare reforms.
Details of any compromise ministers would be prepared to offer were still being thrashed out ahead of a crucial vote on benefits cuts, due to take place next week.
But Government sources suggested it was open to softening its stance in order to persuade MPs not to back an amendment that would effectively kill the Bill.
Downing Street said it was “engaging with colleagues” and “recognise[d] the strength of feeling”, when pressed over whether it was considering concessions, but argued the reforms would “fix the broken welfare system”.
The bill will restrict eligibility for personal independence payment (PIP), the main disability benefit in England, and limit the sickness-related element of universal credit.
MPs are concerned, in particular, about the threshold for PIP being raised so that a person has to score four “points” in an assessment to be eligible.
They have warned this will exclude a much higher number of people than the Government’s projections that one in ten will lose their welfare payment.
square POLITICS Big Read'A f*** up by No10 and Reeves': Inside Labour's benefits rebellion blame game
Read More
One Labour MP told The i Paper they had heard rumours that the Government will strip the specific four-point detail from the legislation and make it subject to future consultation.
This was denied by a No10 source. But the Government has committed to review the PIP assessment process – with changes set to be introduced after the reforms have been implemented in November 2026.
This would allow ministers to make time for more engagement with MPs on the specifics of the new criteria and points system.
The Government has already said existing PIP claimants will be given a 13-week phase-out period of financial support, a move seen as a bid to head off opposition.
But 120 Labour MPs are still publicly backing a move to block the legislation by signing an amendment which would halt the bill in its tracks to allow for more scrutiny.
A Labour frontbencher said the Government’s focus was still on trying to persuade rebels not to back the amendment, but added: “It would not surprise me if they are starting to realise the need to offer something.”
And a third MP said: “I think there will have to be some sort of concession. But it may be too late.”
They added it was important to win over “senior figures” among the rebels – such as the committee chairs who have backed the wrecking amendment – but said there were “no good options” for the Government at this stage.
Former work and pensions secretary Lord Blunkett told The i Paper he would expect the government to backtrack on some part of the reforms, to stave off an embarassing defeat.
“There will be lots of intense discussions behind the scenes about what tweaks can be made to the existing proposals (and particularly the number of immediate financial losers), which will play out over the next few days,” he told said. “There are financial as well as political consequences”
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has previously said that the bill would need to receive Royal Assent by November in order to meet the welfare savings set out by the Chancellor in the Budget.
Allies of Kendall said they expected her to make assurances on considering future amendments to the bill when it comes to the Commons on Tuesday, in order to limit the scale of the rebellion.
But it is understood that the Department for Work and Pensions is not looking to make promises on allowing time for future amendments.
And some still believe the Government will be able to get the bill over the line – even without offering up a compromise.
An MP who is close to the Work and Pensions Secretary said: “It will be tight, but I’m confident it will pass.”
Rumours were swirling on Wednesday morning that the Government was considering pulling the Bill ahead of Tuesday’s vote.
Starmer, his Deputy Angela Rayner and a No10 spokesman were all forced to deny that this was being considered.
At a press conference at the Nato summit in The Hague, the Prime Minister said the UK’s “broken” welfare system “doesn’t work” and insisted “there will be a vote”.
However, he did not directly answer a question about whether he would compromise with Labour rebels.
He also did not explicitly say the vote would be on Tuesday, as the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner did earlier in the day.
Asked whether he had misjudged the mood of Labour MPs, Starmer said commentators had claimed he “couldn’t read the room” in the run up to the election, but he had proved them wrong by winning a “landslide”. “I’m confident with reading the room,” he said.
And asked by ITV News what concessions the Government will offer, Rayner said: “I am not going to get into that on your show tonight, those discussions are ongoing around making sure that the welfare reforms that we are bringing in support people into work that need that… but also protecting the most vulnerable.
“And I think this is really important, because a lot of people are very scared about these changes. I haven’t changed my Labour values, and we’re not expecting our benches to do anything that isn’t in check with them […] and we’re discussing that with our MPs.”
Social security minister Sir Stephen Timms said he is “looking forward to the debate” next week.
He told the Commons Work and Pensions Committee the changes need to be made urgently to cut the spiralling welfare bill.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Starmer ready to retreat on benefit cuts to win over Labour rebels )
Also on site :
- '90s TV Star, 60, Goes Makeup Free in Rare Outing
- Pentagon official says Iran still has significant tactical capabilities
- Country Star’s Surprise Photo Has Fans All Saying the Same Thing