Yesterday marked a total humiliation for Starmer, after 11th-hour U-turns effectively gutted any welfare reforms in order to get the bill through. Plans to tighten eligibility for Personal Independence Payment were kicked into the long grass – delayed until after work and pensions minister Stephen Timms’ review next year. Triggering a total meltdown within the parliamentary party…
Lead Labour rebel Rachael Maskell told the Today Programme that yesterday saw a “change in power” away from Starmer:
“The bill disintegrating before our eyes. I think throughout the day, what we saw was a change in power between the Prime Minister and his Government and disabled people across our country – they now have their voice at the heart of Parliament.”
Meanwhile, the Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that the bill will now actually cost the Treasury £100 million, with Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden telling Times Radio this morning admitting there will be “financial consequences” to the total U-turn. Brace for tax rises…
As Guido first revealed, a blame game has taken over the Downing Street team, with bitter finger-pointing over the handling of the vote. Most of the blame is now falling on political director Claire Reynolds. Labour backbenchers now know that if they rebel, they can force Starmer into U-turning on anything. PMQs should be fun…
Labour MP Rachael Maskell on the eve of Labour Party conference:
“I have been sickened by revelations of ‘donations’. It grates against the values of the Labour Party, created to fight for the needs of others, not self. Meanwhile pensioners are having their Winter Fuel Payments taken, risking going cold. I trust conference votes to change this.”
Red Wall Labour backbencher Jonathan Brash told GB News that Starmer should resign:
“I’m completely fed up about it, and I think it’s got to the point now where I genuinely think that, as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, it’s not a case of if, it’s when.”