UK's Starmer waters down welfare cuts to quell Labour revolt

27/6/2025 16:38

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has sharply scaled back planned welfare cuts to quell a damaging rebellion by lawmakers in his governing Labour Party.

More than 100 Labour lawmakers had publicly opposed Starmer's reforms, which sought to shave 5 billion pounds per year off a rapidly rising welfare bill. They had argued that the plans failed to provide support for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.



Faced with the prospect of a defeat in parliament next week - just a year after he won a landslide majority in a national election - Starmer's office confirmed that the cuts would be scaled back.



"We have listened to MPs who support the principle of reform but are worried about the pace of change for those already supported by the system," a spokesperson said.



The reforms are set to be put to a vote in parliament on July 1.



In a letter to lawmakers, work and pensions minister Liz Kendall said only new claimants would be subject to the planned tightening of eligibility for certain benefits payments.



Existing recipients, some of whom had faced losing those benefits, would now be unaffected.