Labour rebellion over welfare cuts grows as Starmer vows to press on with controversial vote: UK politics live

Angela Rayner is set to step in for Sir Keir Starmer to take questions in the Commons shortly.

For the second week in a row, the deputy prime minister will face PMQs in the prime minister’s absence.

Shadow chancellor Mel Stride will stand in for Kemi Badenoch

Issues likely to come up are questions around Labour’s planned welfare reforms and Starmer’s new commitment to spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035.

Conservative MP Danny Kruger described the proposed legislation as a “cuts bill”.

The Work and Pensions Committee member said it is “not really a reform bill, it’s just a cuts bill”.

He added: “It’s not even going to achieve significant welfare savings.”

Mr Kruger cited research he said had suggested the benefit cuts will “fall disproportionately on older people and those with physical health conditions, rather than on younger people with mental health conditions who will continue to be parked on benefits”.

He asked Sir Stephen Timms, minister for social security and disability: “Do you accept that that is the likely effect of the reforms, that it would be older people who would be more likely to lose their Pip?”

Sir Stephen said he did not accept this and had “not seen an assessment along those lines”.

The Independent’s Tom Watling reports:

At least 3.2 million disabled people are in line to have their welfare support reduced if Labour’s bill to cut benefits goes ahead, ten major charities have warned.

In a joint briefing, charities including Mind and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation condemned the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill as Sir Keir Starmer insisted it will go ahead despite widespread opposition from within his party.

London mayor Sadiq Khan is among 123 Labour members leading opposition to the bill, saying it will destroy the financial safety net for millions of people.

The ten charities have also warned that the bill will “push between 300,000 and 400,000 people into poverty” as well as drive an additional 440,000 disabled households into “severe hardship”.

They define this as a form of deep poverty that means people have to rely on food banks.

The social security and disability minister said he would be “delighted” to have cross-party support for Labour’s welfare reform proposals – when asked about the need for Conservative backing to get the Bill through.

Tory MP Danny Kruger put it to Sir Stephen Timms: “At the moment, you don’t have a majority to get it through the House of Commons unless the Conservatives support the Bill.

“Would you like us to and will you press ahead if you can only do it with Conservative support?”

Sir Stephen, appearing before the Work and Pensions Committee, replied: “I’d be delighted to have support from across the entire House for the excellent proposals that we’re bringing forward, and I’m looking forward to the debate on Tuesday.”

Sir Keir Starmer is in the Hague meeting with Nato allies this week, meaning he is unable to face his weekly PMQs.

His deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, will step in and answer questions on his behalf at the usual time of 12pm.

While rebellion grows at home, Starmer is currently meeting with Nato allies in the Hague.

He was pictured speaking with Donald Trump on Wednesday morning.

Sir Stephen Timms said he is “looking forward” to Tuesday’s debate on the Government’s controversial Bill on welfare reform.

The minster for social security and disability echoed the tone of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has insisted a vote will go ahead next week, despite a raft of Labour MPs launching an amendment to stop Bill.

Conservative MP and Work and Pensions Committee member Peter Bedford asked Sir Stephen about the Bill during a session on Wednesday.

Mr Bedford said: “Minister, if I can just touch on the elephant in the room, you’ve got your second reading of the welfare Bill due to come before Parliament on Tuesday. Is it still your intention to bring that Bill forward for second reading on Tuesday?”

Sir Stephen replied: “It is. I’m looking forward to the debate.”

The social security minister is currently facing questions from a committee of MPs about the Government’s reforms.

Sir Stephen Timms told the Work and Pensions Committee that the vote was still set to go ahead on Tuesday as he sought to explain and defend the reforms to welfare.

When asked if cuts are to begin next April, he explained this wasn’t the case.

“I don’t think anyone will see a cut next April, I think new claimants from April will have a lower rate of Universal Credit,” he said.

“But no one will experience a cut next April.”

He added they will begin in November 2026: “In November, the changes to personal independence payments will start, and there will be then some people from November onwards who have been receiving personal independence payments who won’t receive it.”

“Our expectation is around 90 per cent of those who are claiming PIP will still have it by 2029/30.

“The change to the individual will only happen at their next award review after November 2026.

“This will build up over some time.”