Big Trouble for Keir Starmer as He Might Be Forced to Resign After Party Rebels Against Him

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under intense pressure as rebellions within his own Labour Party grow over controversial welfare cuts and a proposed inheritance tax on farmers. Up to 80 Labour MPs are reportedly considering opposing the government’s £5 billion cuts to welfare payments, while another 40 are set to revolt against Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ so-called “family farm tax.”


The welfare reforms, spearheaded by Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, aim to address the UK’s soaring welfare bill, which cost the Treasury £64.7 billion last year—more than the entire defense budget. With 2.8 million people claiming long-term sickness benefits and an ageing population, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) projects the welfare bill could hit £100 billion by 2030.

The proposed measures include freezing welfare payments, increasing check-ups on repeat claimants, and raising thresholds for first-time applications. The reforms are designed to tackle the issue of people earning more from benefits than they would in employment, as well as the record number of young people not in work, education, or training.

However, Labour MPs on the left have criticized the plans, arguing they take a “sledgehammer” to welfare and risk harming vulnerable people. Rachael Maskell, MP for York Central, warned that the approach is “not the right way” and expressed concern over constituents’ fears of losing their benefits. “I’m getting letters from constituents who are very, very worried about losing their benefits,” she said.


Meanwhile, Labour’s plan to impose a 20% inheritance tax on farmers with assets over £1 million has sparked outrage in rural communities. Farmers argue that while they may be asset-rich due to high land and machinery values, they are often cash-poor and unable to cover large tax bills. They warn that the tax could force many to sell their farms, threatening the UK’s food security and the livelihoods of young farmers.

Henry Tufnell, MP for Mid and South Pembrokeshire, has publicly opposed the tax, calling it “embarrassing” after he assured farmers during his campaign that Labour would not touch inheritance tax. “We’ve lost that trust and confidence of the farming sector,” he said. “This is about the social fabric of the countryside.”

A group of 40 Labour MPs, dubbed the “rural growth group,” is demanding exemptions for older or ill farmers, many of whom have retained ownership of their farms while passing down operations to their children. The tax, set to take effect in April 2026, has left elderly farmers fearing they will saddle their families with unmanageable debts.


Despite the growing unrest, commentators suggest Starmer’s position remains secure due to Labour’s substantial 167-seat majority. Even if all 80 MPs rebelled on welfare cuts and were joined by opposition parties, the government would still have enough support to pass the measures. Similarly, the 40 MPs opposing the farm tax are unlikely to muster the numbers needed to defeat the policy.

However, the rebellions highlight the challenges Starmer faces in balancing fiscal responsibility with the expectations of his party and constituents. With pressure mounting from both urban and rural MPs, the Prime Minister must navigate these internal divisions while addressing the UK’s economic and social challenges.

A government spokesperson defended the farm tax as a “fair and balanced approach,” while Downing Street emphasized the need to reform a “broken social security system” that is “holding our people and our country back.” As the debates continue, Starmer’s leadership will be tested like never before.