Cabinet ministers are reportedly urging Labour MPs to remove their names from a contentious amendment related to the government’s welfare bill, according to Sky News.
In a bid to manage the escalating dissent from over 100 MPs across various factions of the party, ministers have been directed to contact the amendment’s signatories to persuade them to support the welfare cuts ahead of a scheduled vote next Tuesday.
Politics latest: PM expresses ‘strong confidence’ in his leadership
Two Labour MPs mentioned they had been approached about removing their names from the amendment, while one was asked about the possibility of abstaining from the vote next week.
One Labour MP remarked: “‘The more they press for names to be withdrawn, the more names join the list.”
Others were warned that their actions might instigate a new leadership challenge, insinuating alignment with Nigel Farage to dissuade them.
“I spoke with a senior cabinet member yesterday who suggested that a government defeat next week could trigger a leadership contest,” a Labour MP noted.
“While I see how that could unfold, I maintain that if we reach that point, it will be due to the government’s own missteps. The responsibility lies with them.”
“Generally, the dissenters aren’t seeking to make this about leadership; we simply want the government to listen.”
Another MP, who hadn’t received a call from a cabinet member, stated that they were aware “some colleagues are being told a leadership challenge or a general election is imminent, which is absolute nonsense,” adding: “The entire situation is chaotic.”
If passed, the amendment would effectively thwart the government’s welfare reforms by obstructing its second reading in the Commons.
The amendment calls for a postponement of the £5 billion package to evaluate the ramifications of cuts to personal independence payments (PIP). It raises concerns that the government’s own data indicates up to 250,000 individuals, including 50,000 children, may be pushed into poverty.
The fact that this amendment was proposed by Dame Meg Hillier, chair of the Treasury select committee, with backing from 12 other select committee chairs, has raised alarm in Downing Street, especially given the scale of the dissent.
At least 123 Labour MPs have endorsed the public amendment, and Sky News reports that more names may emerge in the coming days.
While Sir Keir Starmer and his deputy Angela Rayner have confirmed that the vote will proceed next Tuesday, the request for cabinet ministers to reach out to colleagues suggests government anxiety about a possible defeat.
‘The government is not responding’
A Labour MP who supported the amendment stated that most dissenters are advocating for the government to pause the proposals until a thorough consultation can be conducted.
They asserted that the bill’s text was published before the consultation closed, indicating that the government is “not listening.”
Another MP expressed worries that constituents relocated from PIP to Universal Credit could breach the benefits cap, potentially impacting those in higher cost-of-living areas disproportionately.
Read more:
Welfare versus warfare – the PM faces the biggest challenge of his premiership
Rayner refrains from echoing chancellor’s tax promise
“I can’t confidently assure my constituents that this won’t adversely affect them,” they remarked.
The MP also criticized the government’s strategy to keep MPs aligned, stating that it failed to consistently justify the need for reform.
“Engagement ceased after the initial wave of unfavorable media coverage. Now there’s minimal activity before the vote. Ministers and the PM must be more visible and active.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Starmer faces welfare rebellion
Despite the escalating dissent, the Prime Minister has shown no inclination to concede on the government’s welfare agenda.
When asked by journalists at the NATO summit in the Netherlands about making changes to the bill, Sir Keir stated: “We need to implement reforms in our system. It isn’t functioning as it should.”
“As it stands, it fails to support those who urgently need assistance to gain employment or those requiring protection. It’s in a state of disrepair.”
“We were elected to fix what is broken, and that’s precisely what we will do, which is why we’ll continue with these reforms.”
In a conversation with Sky News, armed forces minister Luke Pollard acknowledged that rebels “are not acting out of hostility or defiance” but instead due to “sincere concerns about certain impacts.”
Downing Street has been approached for comments.