Labour backbenches revolt over benefit cuts as Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s sudden policy reversal leaves party members furious. Initially, the government proposed strict welfare reforms, but after fierce opposition, Starmer softened the plan. However, many MPs remain unhappy, calling the changes insufficient.
“What an absolute bloody shambles!” one Labour MP exclaimed. Even those now backing Starmer’s revised plan admit the handling of the issue has been messy. Meanwhile, others refuse to support the measures at all. “They are tinkering with a broken bill,” another critic argued.
Despite concessions limiting stricter rules to new claimants, frustration lingers. Debbie Abrahams, chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, called the changes “a good start” but insisted more must be done. “It would not be right for me not to act,” she warned.
Therefore, many MPs feel ignored by Downing Street. “They see us as an inconvenience,” one lawmaker claimed. Others criticize Chief of Staff Morgan McSweeney and Starmer directly, accusing them of poor communication.
Some believe the real issue lies with Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules. They fear her strict spending limits will force repeated cuts. A few even suggest replacing Reeves, though government insiders defend her as key to Labour’s economic credibility.
As the government nears its one-year mark, Starmer gave an interview admitting past mistakes. He regretted calling immigration’s impact “incalculable” and disavowed his “island of strangers” remark.
Yet his comments only deepened divisions. Loyalists called his remarks “outrageous” and “weak.” Some accused him of betraying his own team. A senior source said they were “too angry to speak.”
Labour backbenches revolt over benefit cuts as tensions threaten party unity. With MPs still pushing for changes, Starmer must work harder to regain trust.
As the dust settles, one question remains: Can the PM recover from this self-inflicted crisis? For now, Labour backbenches revolt over benefit cuts signals a government struggling to balance policy and politics.
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