Keir Starmer Faces Subtle Resignation Threat from His Own Party – You Won’t Believe What Happened
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is facing a big problem inside his own party. While he recently celebrated signing a UK-US trade deal with President Donald Trump, many Labour MPs are angry about something much closer to home proposed cuts to disability benefits.
More than 80 Labour MPs have signed a letter that will be sent to the chief whip early next week. In it, they express serious concerns about the government’s plan to make it harder for people to get Personal Independence Payments, or PIP. The most upsetting part for these MPs is that they will be asked to vote on the plan before they’ve seen all the facts and evidence on how it will affect people.
In addition to the main letter, 42 MPs have also signed another statement that makes their position even clearer. They say that unless there’s a big change in direction, they will not be able to support the proposed reforms. Their statement says that while the government may have correctly identified problems in the benefits system, it has chosen the wrong way to fix them.
They are especially worried because the cuts are expected to total more than £7 billion. This would be one of the biggest reductions to the welfare system since the years of austerity under former Chancellor George Osborne. According to the MPs, over three million people mainly the poorest and most vulnerable would suffer if the changes go ahead.
The MPs are asking ministers to delay the vote until all impact reports are published. These reports would show how the changes could affect things like employment, healthcare, and demand for social services. These results are expected to be ready by autumn. Until then, they say, it’s unfair and dangerous to push the changes through.
Even though many Labour MPs are clearly unhappy, Starmer’s large majority in Parliament means the bill will probably still pass. Some believe that other parties might also support the plan. And after Labour punished seven MPs last year for voting against the party on a separate issue—the two-child benefit cap some MPs are likely scared of being suspended if they go against party orders again.
So now there’s tension growing inside the Labour Party. People are watching closely to see if this rebellion will grow stronger or if party leaders will calm things down before the vote. Either way, this could become one of Starmer’s biggest political challenges yet.
