Starmer’s Authority Rocked by Commons Rebellion and Welfare U-Turns
Starmer’s Authority Rocked by Commons Rebellion and Welfare U-Turns
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s authority has been severely shaken after his government suffered a major humiliation in the House of Commons, losing control over a crucial welfare reform vote. The crisis, unfolding rapidly over the past week, saw a significant rebellion from his own Labour MPs, forcing multiple embarrassing U-turns on proposed changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility.
The extraordinary parliamentary defeat, reminiscent of chaotic Brexit debates, has exposed deep fissures within the Labour Party just days after Starmer marked his first anniversary in Downing Street. Despite holding a significant mandate and majority, Downing Street was caught off guard by the scale of dissent, leading to last-minute concessions and frantic efforts to quell a rebellion that saw nearly 80 Labour MPs threaten to vote against the government.
The fallout is profound, with widespread speculation about the future of key figures, including Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, amid reports of an “appallingly bad” atmosphere in No 10. Senior sources suggest that previously planned policies, such as lifting the two-child benefit cap, may now be off the table, with autumn tax rises appearing increasingly inevitable. The episode leaves Prime Minister Starmer weakened and under immense pressure to demonstrably regain control.
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