Starmer stands firm on welfare bill as number of Labour rebels passes 120 | Disability

Keir Starmer has said the government will stand firm on its welfare plans as ministers and party whips struggled to contain a growing Labour rebellion before next week’s vote.

By Tuesday night the tally of rebels stood at 123 Labour MPs, up from 108, plus 11 MPs from opposition parties, all from Northern Ireland. As Labour heavy-hitters waded into the row, there were fears inside government that the number would rise and scupper Starmer’s changes to benefits.

The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, was among those urging the prime minister to drop his plans, warning they would “destroy the financial safety net” for millions of people.

While cabinet ministers were deployed to win over Labour rebels, some whips and government aides were accused by MPs of threatening deselection and…