Sir Keir Starmer is facing his largest rebellion yet over plans to cut sickness and disability benefits.
In a bid to get the backlash from backbench MPs under control and avoid an embarrassing defeat in the Commons, the government agreed several concessions to the welfare reforms being voted on on Tuesday.
They included protecting people currently claiming personal independence payments (Pip) from changes due to come into effect in November 2026, and rowing back plans to cut the health-related element of universal credit.
But backbench anger has continued to simmer, with the Prime Minister being accused of creating a “two-tier” benefits system and a statement from Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall on Monday receiving a negative response.
Here are the rebel Labour politicians leading the charge:
Meg Hillier
The MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch has been front and centre of the backlash against the welfare reforms.
As chair of the Treasury Select Committee, her role is usually to scrutinise rather than lead a revolt.
But last week, she authored the original amendment that would have killed off the flagship welfare reforms and which forced Sir Keir’s government’s into making concessions.
She was one of a small group of MPs who thrashed out the compromise.
On Tuesday, Ms Hillier confirmed she would vote for the welfare Bill saying Downing Street has “listened” and “honoured” the promises it made.
Debbie Abrahams
The Chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee is also one of the original architects of the welfare rebellion.
The MP for Oldham and Saddleworth East has suggested that she will still not support the Bill, even after concessions were made as she believes they do not go far enough.
She said she hopes further changes can be made through amendments before the vote on Tuesday.
Ms Abrahams believed the government were set to agree that cuts for future Pip claimants would be put on hold until a review into the process had taken place, and that the saving to the health element of universal credit would be pushed back to November 2026.
“The review should determine both the new process, the new points and the new descriptors,” she said. “We shouldn’t pre-determine it at four points at the moment.”
Rachael Maskell
This is not the first time the MP for York Central has disagreed with Sir Keir on policy.
She has also been outspoken about her opposition to cutting winter fuel payments for pensioners and the government’s decision to make savings on overseas aid.
A leading rebel, she has tabled a reasoned amendment that would block the bill.
“There’s no confidence… we’re being asked to sign a blank check even with these changes,” she said on Monday.
Louise Haigh
The former Transport Secretary, who was sacked from her cabinet job last November, has not been the most visible of the rebels.
But she has been key in collecting and counting their votes. She appeared to suggest she was pleased with the concessions made to the Bill and offered her support to the tweaked legislation over the weekend.
The Labour MP for Sheffield Heeley told the BBC her fellow MPs were "really pleased that the government has now listened to those concerns and they've made a significant number of concessions".
Sir Sadiq Khan
Sir Sadiq Khan does not have a vote in Tuesday’s debate, but he has been a major thorn in the side of the Prime Minister over the welfare reforms.
The Mayor of London has repeatedly expressed his concerns about the proposed cuts, despite Sir Keir’s partial U-turn.
He has said the plans still need “radical transformation to be fit for purpose”.
On Monday he said: “I welcome the changes announced by the Government, and I welcome that the Government has pledged to work with disabled people and disabled groups. “But I still have serious concerns about these plans. I’ve met too many Londoners who do work, but through no fault of their own need support from the state, and they’re really worried they’ll lose that.
“The mission of the Labour government should be to support people out of poverty and this Bill still needs radical transformation to be fit for purpose.
“I’m hoping today and tomorrow the Government go further to address the concerns many of us have.”
