Starmer changes tone in bid to win back Labour MPs

On Wednesday, Sir Keir Starmer insisted that he would plough on with the government’s proposed welfare reforms.

For Labour MPs, that only made things worse.

Today’s task for the prime minister and his team: make things better.

The clear change of tone right from the start of the day was the first sign of that change.

It was reinforced by Sir Keir in the Commons, who said that he recognised MPs of all parties were “eager” to reform the “broken” welfare system.

“We want to see reform implemented with Labour values and fairness,” he said.

He said talks with Labour rebels would continue in the “coming days”, ahead of the scheduled vote next week on legislation to deliver the proposals.

The bill tightens eligibility requirements for personal…