MORE than 100 Labour MPs have signed their names to a Commons bid to halt the UK Government's welfare reforms.
Some 108 MPs' signatures appear on a reasoned amendment declining to give the welfare reform bill a second reading when it is debated on July 1.
It marks the largest rebellion Keir Starmer has faced yet, and would be enough to defeat the UK Government's plans if opposition MPs joined the Labour rebels.
The Government's Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill would, among other things, change the eligibility criteria for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) disability benefit, making it harder for people to be awarded.
The amendment, published on Tuesday's order paper, notes there is a "need for the reform of the social security system".
However, it also urges MPs to decline to continue scrutinising the bill because of the Government's own impact assessment, which "estimates that 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty as a result of these provisions, including 50,000 children".
The MPs also pointed towards the fact that there has been no formal consultation with disabled people who will be impacted by the consultation, and that an analysis of the impact of the reforms from the Office for Budget Responsibility will not be published until the autumn.
Full text of amendment 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/tjVhuiEqXE
— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) June 23, 2025
Several Labour select committee chairs were among those who put their name to the amendment, including chair of the Treasury committee Meg Hillier, and Debbie Abrahams, chair of the work and pensions select committee.
Vicky Foxcroft, the former Government whip who resigned from her role just last week over the welfare plans, has also signed the amendment.
A total of nine Scottish Labour MPs have also added their names: Patricia Ferguson, Brian Leishman, Tracy Gilbert, Scott Arthur, Richard Baker, Lilian Jones, Elaine Stewart, Kirsteen Sullivan, and Euan Stainbank.
The SNP have also tabled a reasoned amendment to decline a second reading to the bill, published on the same order paper.
Signed by every SNP MP, it states that "with around half of all children in poverty in Scotland living in a household with a disabled person, these measures threaten to undermine the progress being made by the Scottish Government to reduce poverty and child poverty through an approach with dignity, fairness and respect at its centre".
This is not the first attempt to decline a second reading to the bill.
Last week, The National reported that the Independence Alliance – the group of independent MPs including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn – tabled an amendment to decline a second reading on the grounds that it "fails to provide a fair and compassionate approach to reforming disability benefits".
The Green Party also tabled an amendment echoing the same sentiment, stating that the bill "contains dangerous and counterproductive cuts to entitlements aimed at disabled people".
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall spent Monday night speaking to backbench MPs about the reforms at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP).
Those leaving the meeting claimed there was broad consensus in the room, with only few MPs standing up to make their opposition known.
Kendall told the PLP that the UK Government's plans are "rooted in fairness", as she argued they are about ensuring the survival of the welfare state.
The UK Government has previously warned of consequences for Labour MPs who rebel against the Government.
The National reported how rebels face the prospect of having the party whip suspended if they vote against the plans, while those considering abstaining have been warned they will not be considered for promotion through the entirety of Starmer's time as Prime Minister.
Such warnings were reiterated on Tuesday by Cabinet Office minister Pat McFadden, who told ITV's Good Morning Britain it would be a "very serious thing" for Labour MPs to rebel.
He said: "You're right to point out that this phrase 'reasoned amendment' isn't just a small tweak. It would stop the legislative process if it succeeded.
"I don't think as the party of labour, the party of work, we can sit back and be relaxed about so many people going on to long-term sickness and disability benefits."
In order to be debated, the amendment would need to be selected by Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle.
The UK Government is holding firm on the policy, with Keir Starmer insisting that the welfare system "isn’t working".
Because of the numbers of MPs who could vote against the Government, Starmer was forced to insist: "It’s not a confidence vote."
He added: "It’s a vote about reforming our welfare system.
“It isn’t working. It doesn’t help people into work. Quite the contrary, it actually makes it harder for people to go into work. I think most colleagues do accept the case for reform, we’ve got to get on and make that reform.”
Asked if he would offer concessions to placate MPs unhappy with the reforms, he said: “We’re pressing on with a vote on this because we need to bring about reform.
