Labour welfare rebellion – latest: Starmer vows to press on with controversial vote despite dissent from 120 MPs – UK Times

Sir Keir Starmer has said the vote on welfare reforms is “not a confidence vote” on his leadership as he faces a showdown with Labour rebels.

He told Sky News: “It’s not a confidence vote. It’s a vote about reforming our welfare system.

“It isn’t working. It doesn’t help people into work. Quite the contrary, it actually makes it harder for people to go into work. I think most colleagues do accept the case for reform, we’ve got to get on and make that reform.”

Asked if he would offer concessions to placate MPs unhappy with the reforms, he said: “We’re pressing on with a vote on this because we need to bring about reform.

“We were elected into government to change that which is broken. Our welfare system is broken. The progressive thing to do is to fix it so it works for working people.”

The Independent’s political correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

John Healey has said the welfare system needs reform as it is currently failing millions.

“This deep-seated, failing system traps millions of people and tells them the only way they can get social security payments is clear, they will never work again,” the defence secretary said.

As the rebellion over Sir Keir Starmer’s benefit cuts grows, Mr Healey told the BBC: “We cannot be in a situation where more than 1,000 people every day are awarded personal independence payments, which has doubled since the pandemic.”

More Labour MPs have signalled they are willing to rebel over the Government’s welfare cuts after Sir Keir Starmer declared he would “press on” with next week’s vote.

Overall, 134 MPs are now backing an amendment that would effectively threaten the Government’s proposed changes, an Order Paper published by Parliament late on Wednesday indicated.

Among the new signatories on Tuesday night from Sir Keir’s party were Leeds Central and Headingley MP Alex Sobel, as well as Danny Beales who represents Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

Hertford and Stortford MP Josh Dean and Bradford West MP Naz Shah are also among the new Labour signatories, taking the total rebels from Sir Keir’s party to about 120.