UK Politics

Welfare U-turn will cost £2.5bn by 2030, Liz Kendall tells MPsLabour MPs have branded Sir Keir Starmer’s welfare proposals as “Dickensian”, as the prime minister prepares to face a backbench rebellion this evening.MPs are debating the second reading of the government’s welfare bill ahead of a crunch vote in the Commons this evening.The bill would see changes made to personal independence payment (Pip) and the health-related element of universal credit.With the prime minister’s authority on the line, work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall confirmed a number of concessions to cuts on Monday in an effort to head off a major rebellion by Labour backbenchers.However, dozens of Labour MPs have signed an amendment proposing to sink the legislation on Tuesday.Rachael Maskell – who tabled the amendment – called the cuts, “Dickensian”, “from a different era and a different party” as she stood in the Commons on Tuesday.“These are my constituents, my neighbours, my community, my responsibility, and I cannot cross by on the other side,” she said.MPs will vote on the amendment before voting on the second reading on the bill this evening.Pictured: Protesters gather outside parliament( More

A record number of people have crossed the Channel in small boats in the first six months of this year, new figures show – despite Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to “smash the gangs”.Just days before the prime minister marks one year in office, new data from the Home Office shows a total of 19,982 people have arrived in the UK since the start of 2025 – the highest total for this point in the year since data was first collected on migrant crossings in 2018. The prime minister has been struggling to bring down both the number of boat crossings and the amount of money spent on housing asylum seekers in hotels across the UK. But he has also faced criticism from left-wing Labour MPs and refugee charities, accusing Sir Keir of attempting to copy Reform UK’s inflammatory rhetoric. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended his Government’s record as he faces a major revolt on welfare reforms More

Sir Keir Starmer will not be having a party to mark his first year as prime minister after Britain’s top pollster said he was off to the worst start in history. Downing Street confirmed there were “no plans for a party” to mark the occasion, but stressed that Sir Keir had reflected on Labour’s progress so far in Tuesday’s cabinet meeting. “He is marking the year by briefly reflecting on it in cabinet, but looking forward his focus is on delivering for the British people,” the prime minister’s official spokesman said. Sir Keir Starmer has defended his government’s record after a year in charge More

With a simple majority of 156, it would be truly extraordinary if the government was defeated today on its key welfare reforms.But that does not mean that Keir Starmer can take any kind of satisfaction over a numerical victory in the Commons today.The fact is, in many ways he has already lost. By being forced by rebels to make significant concessions to an important part of his government’s reform programme less than a year into being prime minister, Sir Keir is in almost unprecedented territory for someone who has so recently won power.Sir Keir Starmer faces the prospect of a major rebellion over the Government’s welfare Bill on Tuesday (Paul Currie/PA) More

Sir Keir Starmer is braced for the biggest revolt of his leadership over benefit cuts the government’s own analysis says will push 150,000 people into poverty. In a sign of the challenge facing the prime minister, those set to rebel over the welfare reforms come from across the party and include select committee chairmen, MPs from the new intake and even a recent frontbencher. The Independent looks at who the key rebels are and what they have said about the reforms. Vicky Foxcroft The Commons terrace went silent last month when Vicky Foxcroft quit as a government whip in order to vote against Sir Keir’s plans. The Labour MP said she said she could not vote for reforms that “include cuts to disabled people’s finances”.Her resignation piled fresh pressure on the PM to negotiate with rebels, and she has since said concessions from Sir Keir are not enough. Vicky Foxcroft quit her government role over the cuts More