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Politics latest: PM accused of showing 'contempt' for Labour rebels - as Tory MP criticises Badenoch while she sits just metres away

Keir Starmer has returned to the Commons from international summits to a burgeoning backbench rebellion threatening to kill his welfare reforms. The PM has hinted concessions could be on the way, but will they be enough ahead of a crunch vote next week?

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Tory MP accuses Badenoch of bringing 'partisan politics' into national security

For all the talk of a Labour rebellion, there was a solitary voice of revolt on the Tory backbenches today too.

Conservative MP Mark Pritchard accused his leader, Kemi Badenoch, of bringing "partisan politics" into national security.

It comes after Keir Starmer lambasted her for doing so, after she'd accused him of "evading" PMQs because he was at a NATO summit.

Pritchard said while he may disagree with the PM generally, he agreed with the importance of putting on a united front on security issues.

"I may get the party whip withdrawn for saying that but so be it," he added, with Badenoch still sat just a few benches in front of him.

Public reject cuts to disability benefits and fear they'll increase pressure on NHS - poll

By Will Charley, political reporter

New polling suggests the public are overwhelmingly opposed to the government's planned cuts to disability benefits. 

Findings by More In Common found just 27% of people support the proposed changes to the benefit system.

Some 60% of people said the government should look at other ways to save money, and 52% said the cuts will increase pressure on the NHS.

Ministers confirmed today they are pushing ahead with plans for a crunch vote in the Commons on the Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill next Tuesday.

That's despite more than 120 Labour MPs publicly signing an amendment, which would kill the bill.

The polling, carried out with charity Disability Rights UK, also found 51% of people believe the cuts will worsen the health of disabled people. 

The results also found:

  • 67% of PIP recipients say they specifically use some or all of their payment to support their ability to be physically active
  • 51% of PIP recipients say losing their payments would make them less active
  • More than one third (34%) of benefits recipients fear they would participate less in the community

Mikey Erhardt, the charity's policy lead, told Sky News: "Our research with More In Common should provide MPs with all the evidence they need to vote against the changes proposed in this bill.

"The risk to public health and the NHS that will arise from these cuts is huge and hasn't yet even been recognised by the government."

Watch: Why is the government cutting benefits?

Cuts 'would be devastating'

Another national charity opposing the cuts is Sense.

James Watson-O'Neil, the charity's chief executive, said the cuts "would be devastating for disabled people" and risk pushing "hundreds of thousands into poverty and isolation".

He added: "Disabled people are telling us they鈥檙e worried they won鈥檛 be able to heat their homes, put food on the table, or afford the therapies they rely on. These are not luxuries鈥攖hey are basic needs."

Sense is calling on people to write to their local MP urging them to vote against the bill. All 650 MPs have now heard from at least one constituent, on behalf of the charity, it added.

Britain has 'too many people who are taking', Badenoch says

Turning to welfare, Kemi Badenoch says government spending on debt interest is over 拢100bn a year, and welfare spending is "out of control".

"Our country is living beyond its means," she says. "We are spending more than we are earning; and it means the cost of living crisis for working people is getting worse and worse."

She calls for a "totally different approach" that "ensures things are easier for the makers 鈥� the people who work hard, create wealth and jobs, and deliver frontline public services".

"Too many people" are "taking", she says, pointing to people who "sit at home with the curtains drawn while others go out to work, or who skip the queue and arrive here illegally", while still having access to benefits, social housing, and the NHS.

Starmer 'in fight of his life'

Turning to the government's battle with its own backbenches to get its welfare cuts through parliament, Badenoch says the PM is "in the fight of his life" and Labour MPs are "too scared to make difficult decisions".

She calls for "real welfare reform" and a "fundamental rethink about which conditions should qualify for long-term financial support", adding she was "shocked" to hear most new disability claims are for behavioural and mental health conditions like anxiety.

Badenoch sets out economic vision and criticises Starmer's policies

Kemi Badenoch opens her speech by setting out her vision of how to run the economy.

She tells the British Chamber of Commerce: "My vision, the Conservative vision, is it is not government that creates growth - it is business."

One of the reasons the Tories lost the election last year is they "were no longer trusted", she says, adding: "It's quite clear that we got enough things wrong during our time in government that people wanted change."

'I know who's side I'm on'

The Tory leader turns to what has happened since the general election, saying inflation is higher, unemployment is up, and growth has halved.

She points to the national insurance rise that could lead to job losses, and the creation of "more quangos" that is increasing bureaucracy.

"This matters because it is about real people - it is people and businesses who are hurting when government is making wrong decisions," she says.

She says the Tories would scrap it and "responsibly" cut taxes.

Watch live: Badenoch gives speech at business conference

Following in the footsteps of Keir Starmer this morning, the Tory leader Kemi Badenoch is addressing business leaders.

You can watch her speech at the British Chamber of Commerce in the stream above if you'd like.

Have your say: Should PM bow to Labour rebels or press on with welfare cuts?

Keir Starmer is facing perhaps the biggest challenge of his premiership, with more than 120 Labour MPs threatening to vote down his flagship welfare reforms.

The PM wants to cut 拢5bn a year from the benefits bill, and get more people into work. But critics are concerned the cuts go too far, and will harm people who rely on personal independence payments.

You can read more about the proposals here.

What do you make of the PM's conundrum? Is he right to look to cut the benefits bill, or has he gone too far? Let us know in the comments box, and we'll aim to share some of them this afternoon.

Port Talbot operations do not meet US 'rules of origin', says trade secretary

Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has claimed that Port Talbot's operations do not meet the US "rules of origin" that the UK needs to meet to get exemptions from Donald Trump's steel tariffs over the line.

"The issue with the implementation of the steel agreement is the melt and pour rules, which is the US interpretation of rules of origin around steel," he says.

That applies to Port Talbot, where semi-finished products come into the UK and then go to the mills to keep the business going, he said.

"That doesn't meet their existing implementation of that in the US. On British Steel, we have to resolve issues of ownership separate to issues around US trade."

Asked if British Steel's ownership was part of US trade talks, he said it "comes up in the context of the US is very supportive of what we did" after the UK government used emergency powers to take control of British Steel.

But he said British Steel's ownership was something that needed to be resolved "regardless" of the US talks.

What is Starmer's welfare bill and why is he facing a major Labour rebellion over it?

By Alexandra Rogers, political reporter

Sir Keir Starmer faces the biggest rebellion of his premiership next week when his controversial welfare reforms are voted on in the Commons.

After initially securing support for the welfare bill - in principle, at least - a mutiny is building within the parliamentary party at the scale and potential impact of billions of pounds in cuts.

More than 120 Labour MPs have now signed a "reasoned amendment" to oppose the government's proposals - which, if passed, would effectively kill the legislation.

In the amendment, the MPs, who represent a broad spectrum of opinion in the party, call for a delay to assess the impact of cuts to personal independence payments (PIP), one of the main types of benefit for those living with a long-term health condition or disability.

They also cite the government's own figures showing 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, could be pushed into poverty as a result.

Ministers are discussing the prospect of further concessions to win over the growing list of Labour MPs poised to rebel against the planned welfare reforms ahead of the crunch vote next Tuesday.

Sky News takes a look at what the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill proposes at present - and why the prime minister has a major rebellion on his hands.

What is the 'reasoned amendment' backed by rebels - and what could the government do?

There's a rebellion brewing in Sir Keir Starmer's party.

More than 120 Labour MPs have signed a "reasoned amendment" to the government's welfare policy, which will face a vote after its second reading on Tuesday.

The scale of the rebellion could signal Starmer's first Commons defeat - at the hands of his own backbenchers.

But what exactly are they asking for - and could concessions be made?

The amendment was tabled by Dame Meg Hillier, chair of the Treasury select committee, with the support of 12 other select committee chairs.

It is an attempt to force the government to water down the benefit changes, in advance of Tuesday's vote.

Signatories are calling for a delay to assess the impact of cuts to personal independence payments (PIP).

They express concerns, according to a draft seen by Sky News, about the government's own figures showing 250,000 people could be pushed into poverty, and what the forecast is for how many may find employment.

Last night, the government confirmed that talks are ongoing with backbench rebels, though ministers have continued to insist that a vote will take place on Tuesday.

There have been suggestions this morning that Number 10 is considering tabling its own amendment ahead of the vote, in an effort to avoid Starmer's first Commons defeat.

The Telegraph reports that they could promise to speed up payment of funds to help people back into work.

Another alleged option is to offer assurances that reviews of policies around welfare will be published as soon as possible.

Keir Starmer has returned to Downing Street after two days at a NATO summit, and faces arguably the toughest fight of his premiership.

Here are the main things you need to know from today so far:

  • The PM has vowed to keep talking to Labour MPs about their concerns with his welfare reforms, telling them he wants to get them "right";
  • Starmer used the top of a Commons statement about the NATO summit to address the rebellion that threatens to defeat his government, with at least 126 backbenchers seeking to block his plans;
  • Our political correspondent Amanda Akass said it was clear the PM was now considering concessions, but our deputy political editor Sam Coates said they would cost the chancellor billions.
  • The crunch parliamentary vote on the welfare reforms is due to take place next Tuesday, with ministers insisting it will go ahead;
  • Rebel MPs have told Sky News they remain angry with Number 10 about how their concerns have been handled, with many still prepared to vote against the government;
  • "It's now become more than welfare," one said, while another said Starmer had treated the rebels with "contempt".

We'll bring you more updates and analysis on this developing story throughout the afternoon.