25 h. 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

2 w. ago House vote on Trump’s big bill hangs in balance as Johnson vows to ‘get it over the line’

Speaker struggles to muster enough Republican votes as lawmakers object to provisions and costUS politics – live updatesDonald Trump’s signature tax-and-spending bill is hanging in the balance as Republicans struggle to muster sufficient votes in the US House of Representatives.House speaker Mike Johnson is determined to pass the bill as soon as possible, but has been frustrated by lawmakers who object to its provisions and overall cost. They have blocked House Republicans from approving a rule, which is necessary to begin debate on the measure and set the stage for its passage. Continue reading...

Politics

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 Welfare cuts chaos: Tax rises loom within months after Starmer's 'shambolic' benefit reforms 'saved nothing'

Chancellor Rachel Reeves now faces a £5 billion hole in her tax and spending plans

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 ditches Pip benefit reforms in face of Labour revolt

Changes to eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip) will not be made until after a review of the benefit’s assessment process.

Politics

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 Commons showdown on benefit reforms underway as Starmer faces biggest revolt by Labour MPs of his premiership

Ministers hope that the PM’s partial U-turn will be enough to win over sufficient Labour rebels to pass the Government’s welfare changes when MPs vote on Tuesday

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer is likely to scrape through the welfare bill vote, but he cannot consider this a victory

Keir Starmer is likely to have the numbers to get his legislation on welfare to pass its first hurdle today, writes David Maddox, but the concessions he has been forced to make show he’s rapidly losing control

Politics

2 w. ago Labour welfare rebellion: Who are the key MPs opposing Starmer’s benefit cuts?

Sir Keir Starmer’s concessions will likely be enough to win the vote, but the prime minister still faces a major rebellion on Tuesday

Politics

2 w. ago Labour braces for biggest rebellion of Starmer era over welfare reform

Some 39 MPs back new amendment designed to kill bill ahead of Tuesday vote

Politics

2 w. ago Leading Labour rebel backs welfare bill amid sustained defiance

Meg Hillier to vote for government’s legislation on Tuesday though dozens of Labour MPs still expected to oppose itDowning Street has “listened” and “honoured” the promises it made on changes to the welfare bill, one of the key rebels, Meg Hillier, has said, saying she would vote for the bill on Tuesday.The Treasury select committee chair, who authored the original amendment that would have killed off the government’s flagship welfare changes, offered her support amid a continued backlash over the bill from dozens of MPs. Continue reading...

Economics