3 h. ago Starmer defends welfare reform package despite climbdown over Pip

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was forced to shelve key elements of the welfare reform plan to limit a Labour revolt.

Politics

6 h. ago Welfare bill climbdown will have ‘a cost’ at budget, says senior minister

Pat McFadden says U-turn will change calculations, as IFS says tax rises in autumn look increasingly likelyUK politics live – latest updatesThere will be “a cost” to the government’s climbdown on welfare changes at the budget, one of Keir Starmer’s senior ministers has said, as a leading fiscal thinktank said new tax rises appeared increasingly likely.Pat McFadden, the chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, defended Starmer and the work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, after the second reading of the government’s main welfare bill passed its first Commons test only after a central element was removed. Continue reading...

Economics

19 h. ago See how your MP voted on DWP welfare bill after Keir Starmer's massive U

Almost 50 Labour MPs voted against the government in the biggest revolt of Keir Starmer's premiership so far. See how your MP voted using our gadget below

Politics

22 h. ago Labour MPs rail at 'Dickensian' benefits curbs and accuse Starmer of reneging on promises as PM faces his biggest revolt in Commons vote TONIGHT

Dozens of MPs are vowing to defy the PM in the Commons this evening despite him already having humiliatingly weakened the package of benefits curbs.

Politics

24 h. ago 'Dickensian' benefit cuts slammed by leading Labour rebel as Starmer faces biggest revolt 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

24 h. ago PM braced for revolt over welfare after defending his record of a year in power

Ahead of the parliamentary showdown, Sir Keir Starmer said the Government could look back with a ‘real sense of pride’ at its first year in office.

Politics

25 h. 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

25 h. ago Starmer boasts of 'real sense of pride' at marking first year in power... as he faces biggest Labour revolt yet, Channel boats hit grim new record, and taxes are set to rise AGAIN

Keir Starmer 'reflected' on the looming anniversary of his July 4 election landslide as he gathered Cabinet.

Economics

26 h. ago Starmer defends his record in power as biggest revolt of his premiership looms

The Prime Minister insisted at a meeting of senior ministers that his team could look back with a “real sense of pride and achievement”.

Politics

31 h. ago Starmer’s authority under fire as Labour MPs threaten biggest revolt yet in crunch vote on benefit reforms

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

Events

3 d. ago US energy groups spend record sums on power plants to feed data centres

Rising capital expenditure raises fears of higher energy prices for consumers

Economics

5 d. ago I'm NOT a huge lefty! Attorney General Lord Hermer dismisses claims he 'defends those who hate Britain' and hits out at 'two

Lord Hermer, who was hand-picked to be the Government's chief legal adviser by Sir Keir Starmer, defended himself from Tory attacks over his past client list.

Events

6 d. ago Keir Starmer admits government has ‘asked a lot’ of business, and defends employment rights bill – business live

PM tells BCC conference businesses have made a ‘huge difference’, following the tax rises in the last budgetFull story: Shell has ‘no intention’ of making offer to buy BP after £60bn takeover rumoursStarmer then tells the BCC conference that the spending review earlier this month is a “clear shift” towards investing in the future of the UK, not simply tackling the promises it inherited.Starmer says his administration have “wiped the slate clean”, stabilized the economy, and can now move onto building a fairer Britain, with change and renewal.‘I fully acknowledge that this year, as we’ve had to fix the foundations of our country, [and] deal with the unprecedented mess that we inherited, we’ve asked a lot of you.I understand that, and I want to acknowledge that.They are all vital for the long-term growth of our country. But none of that would have been possible without your contribution. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Keir Starmer defends Labour's tax hikes and employment rights red tape as business chiefs warn burden must NOT be increased again

Keir Starmer admitted the government had 'asked a lot' of firms as he addressed the British Chambers of Commerce conference in London .

Events

6 d. ago Starmer dismisses welfare cuts revolt as ‘noises off’ and defends his leadership – as it happened

This live blog is now closed, you can read more on this story hereKemi Badenoch has said it would be “pathetic” for Keir Starmer to postpone the vote on the UC and Pip bill. She posted this on social media, as a comment on the tweet from Kitty Donaldson. (See 11.22am.)This is pathetic. Starmer must not pull this bill. We’ve offered to support him in the national interest if our reasonable conditions are met.If he pulls the bill, it proves Labour isn’t serious about fiscal responsibility. If Labour backbenchers are too scared to deliver welfare changes that make only limited savings, how can they solve bigger problems like the national debt?There is a view forming among ministers and PPS’ that the government will have to pull the welfare bill.However, the message from the centre is very clear it will go ahead regardless of the opposition from MPs because the issue has to be forced.There is widespread speculation in Government that No 10 will pull the entire welfare bill before the en...

Politics

6 d. ago Starmer dismisses welfare cuts revolt as ‘noises off’ and defends his leadership – UK politics live

PM ‘committed to reforming system’ as more Labour MPs join opposition to plan to cut universal credit and PipKemi Badenoch has said it would be “pathetic” for Keir Starmer to postpone the vote on the UC and Pip bill. She posted this on social media, as a comment on the tweet from Kitty Donaldson. (See 11.22am.)This is pathetic. Starmer must not pull this bill. We’ve offered to support him in the national interest if our reasonable conditions are met.If he pulls the bill, it proves Labour isn’t serious about fiscal responsibility. If Labour backbenchers are too scared to deliver welfare changes that make only limited savings, how can they solve bigger problems like the national debt?There is a view forming among ministers and PPS’ that the government will have to pull the welfare bill.However, the message from the centre is very clear it will go ahead regardless of the opposition from MPs because the issue has to be forced.There is widespread speculation in Government that No 10 will...

Politics

6 d. ago Keir Starmer dismisses Labour welfare cuts rebellion as ‘noises off’

PM insists party remains ‘pretty united’ despite more than 120 of his MPs signalling they could vote down billKeir Starmer has shrugged off mounting Labour unrest over his flagship welfare cuts, dismissing the backlash as “noises off” and insisting his party remains “pretty united” behind the need for change.The prime minister is facing the biggest revolt of his premiership as more than 120 MPs signalled in an amendment they could vote against the welfare bill on Tuesday in a rebellion led by select committee chairs and previously loyalist Labour MPs. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Labour MPs accuse No 10 of being ‘in denial’ about scale of rebellion over welfare cuts

Ministers said to be considering further concessions with more than 120 MPs poised to rebel against governmentLabour MPs have accused No 10 of being in denial about the scale of the rebellion over the government’s flagship welfare cuts, amid division at the top of government over whether to pull the controversial bill. Ministers are understood to be considering further concessions to be offered to MPs by the weekend – with more than 120 MPs poised to rebel against the government.A number of cabinet ministers are now said to believe the bill has no chance of passing in its current form, though some are still being deployed to speak to angry MPs in an attempt to win them over. Keir Starmer fuelled further anger within the party after he appeared to shrug off mounting Labour unrest over the proposed reforms, dismissing the backlash as “noises off” and insisting his party remains “pretty united” behind the need for change. The prime minister is facing the biggest revolt of his premiersh...

Politics

7 d. ago Labour welfare rebellion live: Rayner defends benefit reforms as Starmer vows vote will go ahead

Angela Rayner stepping in for Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs

Politics

8 d. ago Fifteen London MPs join major revolt against Starmer's welfare cuts in biggest test for PM since taking office

MPs in the capital backing a rebel move include Dame Meg Hillier, Florence Eshalomi, Ruth Cadbury, Diane Abbott and Dawn Butler

Economics