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Politics latest: Starmer says welfare reforms strike 'the right balance' as he defends government U-turn

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted his welfare reforms now strike "the right balance" after he U-turned in the face of a major backbench rebellion. Labour rebel Nadia Whittome earlier told Sky News she will not back the welfare bill despite the changes made by the government.

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Thank you for joining us for live coverage of today's events in British politics - which saw a busy day of reaction to the government's welfare U-turn.

You can use the key points above for the main moments today, or scroll down for full coverage.

And tap below for all the latest...

Electoral Dysfunction: What will Keir Starmer learn from the Labour welfare chaos?

It sounds like concessions are coming for the over 100 Labour MPs who had threatened to rebel over the government's planned welfare cuts.

On this episode, Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson, and Harriet Harman went over the possible options for the Prime Minister. They also talk about what Keir Starmer needs to learn from the chaos of the past few days.

Plus, is President Trump the "daddy" in his handling of the Israel-Iran conflict, as NATO head Mark Rutte may have suggested?

Remember, you can also watch us on 

A humiliating blow for Starmer, and the fallout will be felt way beyond this week

First there was stonewalling, then the private complaints from MPs before a very public outburst that saw an eye-watering 127 MPs tell their prime minister they were going to defy him on a welfare vote.

Now, the inevitable climbdown has arrived, with Downing Street making a significant offer to rebels last night on their planned cuts to disability benefits.

A government with a massive 165-strong working majority, had an awakening on Thursday to the importance of parliament as it embarked on a humiliating climbdown after the private warnings of MPs to Downing Street fell on deaf ears.

It's worth taking a beat to reflect on the enormity of this moment. Less than a year ago, the prime minister was walking into No 10 having won a landslide, with a Labour majority not seen since the Blair era.

That he has been forced to retreat by angry foot soldiers so early in this premiership, despite having such a big majority, is simply unprecedented. 

No government has lost a vote at second reading - this basically the general principles of a bill- since 1986 (Thatcher's shops bill) and that was the only occasion a government with a working majority lost a bill at the second reading in the entire 20th century.

It is obviously a humiliating blow to the authority of the prime minister from a parliamentary party that has felt ignored by Downing Street. And while No 10 has finally moved - and quickly - to try to shut down the rebellion, the fallout is going to be felt long beyond this week.

Welfare changes could cost 拢3.2bn per year by 2030, Resolution Foundation warns

Changes to the welfare bill announced overnight could cost between 拢2.6bn and 拢3.2bn per year by 2030, the Resolution Foundation has warned.

The group said the changes to the welfare bill "will create a two-tier system to prevent existing claimants from suffering income losses as a result of changes to universal credit and personal independent payments (PIP)".

However, they warned that while the changes are "welcome", they could cost between 拢2.6bn and 拢3.2bn per year by 2029/30.

This will "make it even tougher for the chancellor to meet her fiscal rules this autumn", the group said.

Ruth Curtice, chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, said: "The concessions today mean that over two million people currently receiving support due to ill-health or a disability will no longer suffer income losses from forthcoming welfare changes.

"This is a welcome change that will reassure vulnerable claimants, as is the commitment to bringing forward employment support. 

"The concessions aren鈥檛 cheap, costing as much as 拢3bn and more than halving the medium-term savings from the overall set of reforms announced just three months ago. "

Labour MPs demand a reset in Downing Street relations after welfare rebellion

Labour MPs have called for a reset in relations with Downing Street as the fallout from the welfare rebellion threatens to cause lasting damage.

A late-night climbdown on welfare cuts from No 10 may have seen off the threat of Sir Keir Starmer鈥檚 first major Commons defeat.

Rebels have suggested they now expect the universal credit and personal independence payment (PIP) policy to pass its first hurdle on 1 July.

But a number of Labour backbenchers have expressed deeper frustration with how Downing Street has handled its backbenchers since last year's election.

One warned that discontent and low morale among MPs would "continue to fester" without a "wider reset" in relations between Number 10 and the Parliamentary Labour Party.

They described "a year of poor party management".

Another accused decision-makers of operating as an "exclusive club" and showing "disregard" for both backbenchers and experts outside Westminster.

They said: "I think the government have got to stop pretending they know everything and start listening, because they might learn something."

The government has agreed concessions - but some MPs still aren't happy

As of yesterday, 127 Labour MPs had signed a "reasoned amendment" to Sir Keir Starmer's welfare bill, which questioned the planned reform.

The bill was intended to restrict eligibility for the PIP - the main disability payment in England- and limit the sickness-related element of universal credit, to help shave 拢5bn off the welfare budget by 2030.

But overnight, the government agreed concessions to this group of rebels, offering adjustments to the "pace of change" to personal independent payments and universal credit.

This has appeased some MPs - including lead signatory Dame Meg Hillier - but not all.

Here's a round-up of Labour members who have publicly said they're still not happy:

Richard Burgon said on X that the changes simply make "a very bad bill less awful". He said it is "nowhere near good enough" and he will "vote against the bill".

Nadia Whittome agreed "these concessions aren't enough and they should worry us all". She will also vote again the bill on Tuesday.

Peter Lamb said the changes are "insufficient when better options have repeatedly been put forward and ignored".

Brian Leishman said the proposed reform amounts to a "two-tier welfare programme that would still put people into poverty".

Rachael Maskell said it is clear that the bill "cannot and must not be saved". She added: "The only option is to withdraw the bill, rethink and start to rebuild trust with disabled people".

Ian Byrne also urged the government to withdraw the bill. He said it is "an awful piece of legislation that will cause huge and lasting damage to my disabled constituents and those across the UK".

Diane Abbott agreed that "dropping it is the only way". She said: "Phoney 'concessions' will not fundamentally improve [the] disability benefit cuts bill".

Clive Lewis said he will be voting against the bill. He said: "This smacks of a face saving exercise more than it does doing right by my sick and disabled constituents".

Cat Eccles told the BBC's World at One programme that the changes to the welfare reforms are "too little, too late".

What are the concessions to the welfare bill - and will MPs back it?

By Faye Brown, political reporter

Number 10 has made concessions on its welfare bill after crisis talks with Labour rebels.

Sir Keir Starmer will be hoping the changes are enough to avoid a Commons defeat when the measures are put to a vote on Tuesday - but several MPs have said they are still not satisfied.

Sky News looks at what was in the deal and whether it will be enough to win over critics.

Starmer dodges questions on financial 'hole' potentially left by welfare changes

Sir Keir Starmer today dodged questions on what he would do about a so-called "hole" in public finances reportedly made by his government's concessions on welfare.

It has been claimed that the changes to his reforms will cost upwards of 拢3.2bn per year by 2029/30.

The reforms were touted to save the government 拢5bn.

The prime minister said: "Well, the changes still mean we can deliver the reforms that we need, and that's very important, because the system needs to be a system that is fit for the future, and this is fit for the future.

"All colleagues are signed up to that, but having listened, we've made the adjustments. 

"The funding will be set out in the budget in the usual way, as you'd expect later in the year.

"But the most important thing is that we can make the reform we need. We can talk to colleagues who've made powerful representations as a result of which we've got a package, which I think can work... 

"For me, getting that package adjusted in that way is the right thing to do. It makes the right balance. 

"It's common sense and we can now get on with it."

Starmer: Welfare changes strike 'the right balance'

The prime minister has insisted that changes made to his welfare reforms in the wake of a backbench rebellion strike "the right balance".

Sir Keir Starmer said the concessions amounted to "common sense" after Downing Street agreed to water down the bill after 127 Labour MPs backed a "reasoned amendment".

The prime minister said: "It's very important that we reform the welfare system, because it doesn't work and it traps people, and therefore we're going to press ahead with the reforms. 

"And the principles are if you can work, you should work. If you need help getting into work, you should have that help and support. But if you can't work or there's no prospect of work, then you must be protected.

"We need to get it right. That's why we've been talking to colleagues and having a constructive discussion. 

"We've now arrived at a package that delivers on the principles with some adjustments, and that's the right reform, and I'm really pleased now that we're able to take this forward." 

Electoral Dysfunction: What will Keir Starmer learn from the Labour welfare chaos?

It sounds like concessions are coming for the over 100 Labour MPs who had threatened to rebel over the government's planned welfare cuts.

On this episode, Beth Rigby, Ruth Davidson, and Harriet Harman went over the possible options for the Prime Minister. They also talk about what Keir Starmer needs to learn from the chaos of the past few days.

Plus, is President Trump the "daddy" in his handling of the Israel-Iran conflict, as NATO head Mark Rutte may have suggested?

Remember, you can also watch us on