Dozens of rebel Labour MPs seek to halt Starmer’s welfare reforms

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Dozens of Labour MPs opposed to Sir Keir Starmer’s legislation that would cut welfare benefits are seeking to block its passage through parliament, in what would be a major blow to the prime minister’s reform programme.

Up to 100 Labour MPs including 11 senior parliamentarians are supporting a so-called reasoned amendment to the welfare bill that seeks to stop the legislation undergoing its first major vote in the House of Commons next week, according to rebels.

The large number of Labour MPs willing to back the amendment will worry Starmer and his cabinet, because if 100 were to vote for it along with opposition parties, the government could suffer a defeat.

The amendment was tabled by 11 Labour chairs of Commons select committees, including Meg Hillier, chair of the Treasury committee.

It states the welfare bill should not have its second reading in the Commons because its provisions have not been the subject of a public consultation with disabled people.

The amendment also opposes the second reading on the grounds the Office for Budget Responsibility, the UK fiscal watchdog, has not published an analysis about the employment impact of the reform, and because the government’s own estimates suggest the measure will push 250,000 people into poverty, including about 50,000 children.

Hillier said: “We don’t want to defeat the government but we want the government to think again. We are being asked to vote before consultation with disabled people and before impact assessments.”

The rebel MPs are hoping that by threatening to block the passage of Starmer’s welfare reform bill through parliament, ministers will overhaul the measure in ways that they would find acceptable.

Starmer is seeking to push through a major overhaul of the welfare system to reduce government spending and help mend the public finances.

Changes proposed in the welfare bill would result in about 800,000 fewer people being entitled to disability benefits, many of whom need help washing themselves or using the toilet.

Starmer has prioritised investment in the NHS as well as big increases in defence spending, as he aims to fend off a growing threat from Nigel Farage’s rightwing populist Reform UK party.

The prime minister has rowed back on his unpopular decision to take winter fuel payments away from about 10mn pensioners, and has signalled to allies that he is keen to scrap the two-child benefit cap, which is a significant contributor to child poverty.

But on Monday chancellor Rachel Reeves insisted there would be “no U-turn” on the welfare bill, telling reporters “there needs to be reform”.

Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall told MPs at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour party that “there is no route to social justice based on greater benefit spending alone”, saying the government’s reform plans “are rooted in fairness”.

Some Labour MPs raised concerns about the reform, but others spoke up in favour of the government’s plans, according to people present at the meeting on Monday.

One MP opposed to the welfare bill said it was “awful watching your party making such a grave mistake”.