Keir Starmer defends leadership as Labour welfare rebellion grows

Sir Keir Starmer has defended his leadership as he confirmed the government will push ahead with a vote on welfare reforms, in spite of a large number of Labour MPs opposing the measures.

Despite efforts to stop a growing rebellion, more than 120 Labour backbenchers have signed an amendment calling for the proposals to be scrapped, making an embarrassing defeat for the government possible.

The prime minister insisted the Labour party was “pretty united” on the principle of reforming the welfare system and brushed off criticism as “noises off”.

His comments came after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner told MPs a vote on the government’s welfare bill will go ahead as planned on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media at a Nato…