16 h. ago Reeves ‘eyes £5bn windfall from sale of seized cryptocurrency’

Labour’s chaotic welfare rebellion left the party with a £5bn spending gap to fill

Economics

4 d. ago PIP applicants issued key advice by former DWP assessor after cut 'delays'

Keir Starmer was forced to delete the entire PIP section from the welfare bill due to a Labour rebellion as claimants have been left unclear and 'confused' about the future of the scheme

Politics

8 d. ago How Angela Rayner has become the most influential figure in Starmer’s government – for now

The Independent's Political Editor David Maddox says that despite the clash with Unite, the deputy prime minister’s influence is unmatched since the welfare rebellion

Politics

1 week ago Government sees off backbench rebellion as welfare reforms clear Commons

‘If you can work, you should,’ social security minister Sir Stephen Timms told MPs before they voted on the welfare reforms.

Politics

1 week ago Keir Starmer survives another welfare rebellion amid outrage at DWP disability cuts

Forty five Labour MPs voted against the Government's stripped-down welfare Bill - with backbencher Rachael Maskell branding it a 'stain' on the party

Events

2 w. ago Starmer finally bolsters Reeves after her tears in the Commons spook markets

Chaotic PMQs sees chancellor upset – reportedly after clash with speaker – as PM fields questions over black hole left by U-turn

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer backs tearful Reeves – but refuses to rule out tax rises after welfare debacle

Chaotic PMQs sees chancellor upset – reportedly after clash with speaker – as PM fields questions over black hole left by U-turn

Economics

2 w. ago Starmer fails to back tearful Reeves – or rule out tax rises – after welfare debacle

Chaotic PMQs sees chancellor upset – reportedly after clash with speaker – as PM fields questions over black hole left by U-turn

Economics

2 w. ago The Guardian view on Labour’s welfare rebellion: Starmer must learn from his mistakes | Editorial

A poorly devised cuts policy was mis-sold as reform and MPs were dismissed when they pointed out the problemA clash between the government and Labour MPs over disability benefits was foreseeable long before this week’s Commons rebellion. That doesn’t mean a crisis was inevitable. Compromise might have been reached before the 11th-hour climbdown that averted a defeat in parliament.The conflagration that burned a lot of Sir Keir Starmer’s authority was all the greater because trust had broken down. The twin causes were failure of political judgment in Downing Street and bad policy. The prime minister underestimated the potency of MPs’ objections to the withdrawal of personal independence payment (Pip) from disabled people, and overestimated the capacity of his whips to bully and cajole his party into accepting the changes.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to...

Politics

2 w. ago How Starmer went from defiant to defeated as he scrambled to get his bill over the line

The debacle over the welfare reforms has stripped Keir Starmer of his authority and left his government damaged. David Maddox tracks how the prime minister lost control

Politics

2 w. ago Voices: Only Angela Rayner has emerged from the welfare debacle with her reputation intact

It took the intervention of the deputy prime minister to persuade the prime minister that the game was up – now some Labour MPs are wondering if she’ll replace him, writes John Rentoul

Politics

2 w. ago The Chancellor's teary PMQs: How Rachel Reeves arrived in the Commons with puffy eyes...  before tears rolled down both cheeks and her bottom lip wobbled as she sat by Keir Starmer

The Chancellor's position is under intense scrutiny following the Government's humiliating U-turn on welfare cuts in the face of a rebellion by Labour MPs.

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer fails to guarantee chancellor’s future and does not rule out tax rises to fund welfare concessions – UK politics live

Kemi Badenoch tells PM the welfare bill is a ‘pointless waste of time’ after climbdown heads off Labour revoltWelfare bill climbdown will have ‘a cost’ at budget, says ministerOn Wednesday, Angela Rayner sought to reassure people who had been “scared” about the proposed benefits changes, reports the PA news agency.Speaking to ITV’s Lorraine, the deputy prime minister said:Anyone listening to your show today, they know that there will be no changes to their welfare.I want to make sure that people are reassured by that, because a lot of people have been scared about what’s going to happen. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago Keir Starmer hit by new major rebellion as 49 Labour MPs refuse to back his government's welfare cuts

Ministers had taken drastic action as furious MPs lined up in the Commons to attack the plan to make it harder to claim Personal Independence Payments (Pip) and health-related universal credit.

Politics

2 w. ago How Labour welfare vote rebellion compares to previous revolts by MPs

Keir Starmer has suffered a blow inflicted by his own Labour MPs, but how does it stack up against previous votes under other prime ministers, including Tony Blair’s controversial policies on university tuition fees and the Iraq war?

Politics

2 w. ago Who IS running the country, Keir? Starmer humbled as Labour rebels force him to gut benefits reforms so they will cost taxpayers MORE instead of saving £5bn

In 12 hours of carnage at Westminster, Keir Starmer's carefully-assembled truce with rebels dramatically disintegrated.

Economics

2 w. ago Starmer survives by skin of his teeth – and here’s what he must do now

Sir Keir Starmer’s weaknesses have been badly exposed in a chaotic debate around his welfare reforms. He needs to start listening to his MPs, notes David Maddox

Events

2 w. ago Who IS running the country, Keir? Starmer humbled as Labour rebels force him to gut £5bn benefits crackdown AGAIN to survive vote

In 12 hours of carnage at Westminster, Keir Starmer's carefully-assembled truce with rebels dramatically disintegrated.

Economics

2 w. ago Keir Starmer in full retreat as he waters down welfare cuts AGAIN in order to avoid his biggest ever rebellion as Labour MPs rail at 'Dickensian' benefits curbs

The Prime Minister has already humiliatingly weakened the package of welfare reforms by agreeing to only apply them to new claimants, as dozens of his MPs  vowed to defy him this evening.

Economics

2 w. ago Starmer set to offer Labour MPs further welfare bill concession

PM to make final attempt to get bill over the line with dozens of backbenchers still planning to vote against itUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer is set to offer Labour backbenchers a further concession over disability benefits in a last-ditch attempt to limit the largest rebellion of his premiership and get his controversial welfare bill over the line.The Guardian understands the existing eligibility threshold due to be introduced for disability benefits under the new plans could now remain in place until after the completion of a review into the criteria used to assess people. Continue reading...

Economics