Starmer still faces Labour anger over risk of ‘two-tier’ disability benefits | Welfare

Keir Starmer is battling to stem the revolt over his cuts to disability benefits, with about 50 Labour MPs concerned the new concessions will create a “two-tier” system where existing and new claimants are treated differently.

Senior government sources insisted things were “moving in the right direction” for No 10, with the whips phoning backbenchers to persuade them to support the bill on Tuesday.

Government insiders said they believed they had peeled off enough of the original 120-plus Labour opponents of the legislation to win the vote, after the work and pensions secretary, Liz Kendall, promised to exempt current disability claimants from the changes, and to increase the health element of universal credit in line with inflation.

However, rebel MPs will attempt to lay a new…