Keir Starmer to reconsider benefits cuts following significant backlash from MPs

SIR Keir Starmer will reportedly back down on his plans for benefits cuts as he faces a major revolt from MPs.

No 10 is understood to be exploring tabling its own amendment for the vote on Tuesday, according to the Telegraph.

Sir Keir has refused to blink in response to his first major challenge and scolded the MPs trying to thwart him in slashing welfare costs.

But the rebellion is enough to wipe out the PM’s majority and raises the prospect of his needing Tory support to win the vote next week.

Around 130 have now publicly declared they will oppose the Second Reading of the Bill, easily enough to overturn even Labour’s massive majority.

It means Sir Keir could be about to initiate a major u-turn to avoid his first House of Commons defeat.

One option the PM has is to include a promise to speed up payment of funds to help people back into work.

Another is offering assurances that reviews of policies in this area will be published soon.

But the PM has dismissed what has been described as the nuclear option of delaying or abandoning the package altogether.  

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been one of the most avid supporters of the reforms, as she grapples with the challenge of balancing the budget without having to implement additional tax increases.

Even with the changes the benefits bill was still due to keep spiralling, just at a slightly slower rate.

Yesterday, a defiant Starmer shrugged off Labour welfare rebels, insisting their complaints are just “noise”.

The PM sparked a row within red ranks as he dismissed the gripes of nearly 120 backbenchers and vowed to press ahead with slashing benefits.

At the Nato Summit in the Hague, Sir Keir emphasized his ability to gauge the sentiment within his party, stating that he knows how to “read the room,” and he remains confident in retaining his position as the Labour leader until the next general election.

He said: “I’m comfortable with reading the room and delivering the change the country needs.

“We’ve got a strong Labour government with a huge majority to deliver on our manifesto commitments.

“And that’s the work that we did over many years to win the election.

Are there plenty of people and noises off? Yes, of course, there always are, there always have been, there always will be.

“But the important thing is to focus on the change that we want to bring about.”