5 h. ago Starmer says welfare concessions are ‘common sense’ but dodges funding question – UK politics live

No 10 has offered significant concessions to the rebels amid fears over Tuesday’s voteNo 10 climbs down over welfare billStephen Kinnock, the care minister, was the government voice on the airwaves this morning. Here are the main points he made about the welfare bill U-turn.Kinnock rejected claims that the U-turn was a sign of weakness. When it was put to him on the Today programme that this move, coming after the U-turns on winter fuel payments and a national inquiry into grooming gangs, showed that if Keir Starmer was pushed, he would give in, Kinnock replied:I think if you talk to people out there in the country, they respond very positively to politicians listening, engaging, recognising that you don’t get everything right from day one every time, and making the adjustments and the changes that are needed.And this prime minister will always put the country first. He puts country before party, and he does the right thing for the country.He defended having a “staggered” approach t...

Politics

7 h. ago Scots charity says Labour welfare cuts will 'rip gaping holes' in support for vulnerable

Citizens Advice Scotland has criticised the welfare reforms as well as the last minute changes to the bill

Politics

7 h. ago Starmer’s ‘cruel’ welfare cuts must be voted down despite concessions, say charities

‘We urge MPs to stand firm against a bill that continues to discriminate, harm, and marginalise’, said Amnesty International

Politics

7 h. ago Rebel rebel: parliamentary humiliations didn’t start with Starmer

Government climbdown on welfare reveals the perpetually problematic relationship between Labour’s front and backbench

Politics

7 h. ago Labour in ‘good place now’ on welfare, Kendall insists after Government U

Number 10 offered concessions in a late-night climbdown to head off Sir Keir Starmer’s first Commons defeat.

Politics

7 h. ago What benefit claimants need to know about Labour’s welfare U

The climbdown will provide welcome relief to many disability benefit claimants – but cuts stay on the table

Politics

8 h. ago Labour MPs demand ‘reset’ in relations with Number 10 after welfare U

A Number 10 spokesman insisted that the Prime Minister ‘remains fully committed to engaging with parliamentarians’.

Politics

9 h. ago How has Labour changed its welfare proposals – and will it be enough for rebel MPs?

Ministers will be hoping two key changes will be enough to keep wavering MPs on side

Politics

9 h. ago All PIP and Universal Credit cuts being scrapped as Keir Starmer makes huge U

The government has made an offer to rebel Labour Party MPs over its controversial welfare reforms - and these are the likely changes that are expected to be made

Politics

10 h. ago How benefits will change after Starmer's surrender: All your questions answered as PM concedes to Labour rebels on welfare reforms

Brits who currently receive the personal independence payment (Pip) will continue to do so after the Government made concessions to Labour rebels on controversial welfare reforms.

Politics

10 h. ago All the Labour MPs who forced PIP change as PM warned welfare fight isn't over

Keir Starmer has been warned he still faces a showdown to push through controversial welfare changes as critics warned a string of concessions are 'nowhere near enough'

Events

13 h. ago No 10 climbs down over welfare bill in move to win over Labour rebels

Compromises include exempting those currently receiving disability benefits and increasing health element of universal credit in line with inflationDowning Street has announced major changes to the welfare bill in an attempt to win the support of more than Labour 120 rebels who had threatened to vote against it next week and hand Keir Starmer a damaging first defeat as prime minister.Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, wrote to Labour MPs on Thursday night to lay out the concessions, which were thrashed out over 24 hours of negotiations between senior rebels and government officials. Continue reading...

Economics

14 h. ago Keir Starmer caves in to Labour rebels with huge welfare cuts climbdown to avert humiliating Commons vote defeat

In a letter to MPs, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall revealed personal independence payments will be protected

Politics

15 h. ago Another tragic fact about this disastrous welfare bill: it proves Labour hasn’t learned and doesn’t listen | Polly Toynbee

From cabinet members to the British public, there is an outcry about these benefits cuts. Why is the government always so poor at reading the room?This disaster bill won’t pass on Tuesday. The dangerous obduracy of the prime minister and chancellor confirms precisely what Labour MPs say: they haven’t listened, they aren’t listening and the fear is they won’t learn to listen. Even if the bill squeezed through with some softening, it will be a pyrrhic victory. Why take such a risk for so little? U-turns are better than crashes, but best not left to the last nanosecond.Senior ministers, some of whom have already spoken up in cabinet, will put their feet down firmly to insist on radical alteration, or better still that it’s withdrawn and rethought to avoid what they call “this catastrophe”. If niceties of parliamentary practice escape some, understand how extraordinary this rebellion is. Read their “reasoned amendment” with its crushing reasons why.Polly Toynbee is a Guardian columnist ...

Events

15 h. ago Another tragic fact about this disastrous welfare bill: it proves Labour hasn’t learned and doesn’t truly listen | Polly Toynbee

From cabinet members to the British public, there is an outcry about these benefits cuts. Why is the government always so poor at reading the room?This disaster bill won’t pass on Tuesday. The dangerous obduracy of the prime minister and chancellor confirms precisely what Labour MPs say: they haven’t listened, they aren’t listening and the fear is they won’t learn to listen. Even if the bill squeezed through with some softening, it will be a pyrrhic victory. Why take such a risk for so little? U-turns are better than crashes, but best not left to the last nanosecond.Senior ministers, some of whom have already spoken up in cabinet, will put their feet down firmly to insist on radical alteration, or better still that it’s withdrawn and rethought to avoid what they call “this catastrophe”. If niceties of parliamentary practice escape some, understand how extraordinary this rebellion is. Read their “reasoned amendment” with its crushing reasons why.Polly Toynbee is a Guardian columnist ...

Events

16 h. ago How Starmer averted ‘civil war’ with Labour MPs after diluting welfare cuts

Downing Street counts the political and financial cost after initial response fanned flames of unrest

Events

18 h. ago Starmer caves in to rebels on benefits: Sir Keir is forced into a humiliating climbdown by Labour welfare army

The Prime Minister is said to have handed them 'massive concessions' in a bid to avoid defeat in a crunch vote on benefit cuts next week.

Politics

19 h. ago Starmer caves in to Labour rebels on welfare cuts with £2bn concessions sparking tax rise fears

Prime minister has offered major concessions on his controversial welfare bill after a tense day of talks with rebel Labour MPs, The Independent understands

Economics

21 h. ago JASON GROVES analysis: No 10 ignored the threat of MPs' rebellion

Labour's civil war over welfare has been a slow-motion car crash which was visible from space for months.

Events

23 h. ago Government expected to unveil welfare concessions after talks with Labour rebels

Some 126 backbenchers had signed an amendment that would halt the legislation in its tracks.

Politics