Labour MPs breaking with No 10 over cuts to benefits are weighing the likelihood of a confidence vote in Keir Starmer if a vote on Tuesday goes ahead.
More than 120 rebels have signed on to a ‘reasoned amendment’ calling for the government’s flagship welfare bill to be scrapped – more than enough to overturn Labour’s huge majority.
If the upcoming vote on the bill takes place as planned and it is defeated by a groundswell of Starmer’s own MPs, his leadership could be at risk.
One backbench Labour MP told Metro colleagues were asking if leaders who refused to listen to their concerns were really who they wanted taking them into the next election.
In short, they said the message to those voicing fears over Starmer’s future was: ‘Don’t threaten us with a good time.’
However, the same MP said such an eventuality was not ‘what anyone wants to see’ less than a year after the last general election.
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Ministers have been in conversation with many of the MPs leading the opposition to the welfare bill, to explore what tweaks – if any – could be made to secure their support.
One backbencher who recently met with Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the conversation had been ‘really positive’, though no agreement had been reached.
Last night, the Telegraph reported Downing Street was preparing to table its own amendment to the bill with the aim of winning over some of the more persuadable holdouts.
Among other measures, the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill would make it harder for people to claim the Personal Independence Payment (Pip) disability benefit.
The government argues it is needed to encourage people back into work, stem the increase in the UK’s benefit bill, and fix the welfare system.
But it has been met with opposition by disability campaign groups and charities.
Ross Barrett, Policy Manager at the MS Society, described Pip as a ‘lifeline not a luxury’ and said the proposed cuts would be ‘devastating to disabled people, including many with MS.’
He added: ‘By speaking up about these harmful benefits cuts, MPs are showing that they are listening to disabled people. It’s now time for the government to follow suit and drop the Welfare Bill.’
Stepping in for Starmer at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Deputy PM Angela Rayner was unequivocal that the vote on Tuesday would be going ahead.
But several rebels told Metro they were confident the government would end up with no choice but to scrap it and go back to the drawing board.
Nadia Whittome, one of the Labour MPs who signed the reasoned amendment, said: ‘The government can insist all it wants that the votes are proceeding, but I don’t think that position is tenable.
‘They need to listen to backbenchers and withdraw this bill.’
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