Prime Minister Keir Starmer found himself on the defensive today as members of his own Labour Party publicly slammed his government’s welfare cuts during a visit to Huddersfield.
While there to announce new funding for rail connections between northern cities, Starmer faced tough questions about why his administration is reducing support for disabled people and low-income families at a time when many are already struggling.
Several Labour MPs have taken to social media to call the benefit cuts “cruel” and “heartless” – unusually strong language coming from within the governing party. One even described the policy as “sadistically cruel” toward vulnerable citizens.
When pressed about this rebellion in his own ranks, Starmer pointed to his personal experience with disability in his family, mentioning how both his late mother and brother relied on support systems during their lives.
The Prime Minister argued the current welfare system isn’t working as intended, noting that nearly a million young people are currently neither employed nor in education.
His government is putting £1 billion toward programs designed to help people find work, claiming this approach is better than maintaining a system that allegedly makes it harder for people to get jobs. “Labour is the party of work,” Starmer said, framing the changes as necessary reforms rather than simple cuts.
But critics, including some within Labour, counter that these changes will push already struggling families deeper into poverty. They question whether the promised job support programs will actually reach those who need them most.
The controversy comes alongside growing economic worries, as experts warn that potential new US tariffs under Donald Trump could wipe out Britain’s already slim financial safety margins.
Starmer acknowledged ongoing “intense” negotiations with US officials to prevent a full-blown trade war, noting that most British businesses want to avoid that outcome.
However, he stressed that protecting UK interests remains the top priority, keeping “all options on the table” if talks fail. This balancing act reflects the broader challenge facing Starmer’s government – trying to fix long-standing problems while maintaining party unity and public support during tough economic times.
