U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has endured his biggest parliamentary rebellion over welfare cuts, as a bill to reform Britain’s social welfare system passed with significant concessions. The move came after a week of internal feuding within the Labour Party and a public display of deep division.
The bill aims to reduce the cost of Britain’s spiraling welfare system by raising eligibility requirements for disabled people. However, it has sparked concerns among lawmakers that hundreds of thousands of Britons will be affected. In response to pressure from his own lawmakers, Mr. Starmer agreed to limit the changes to new claimants, reducing the expected savings from £4.8 billion to £2 billion a year.
The government’s concession has been met with skepticism by many Labour members, who argue that it would still result in a two-tier system and push 150,000 people into poverty by 2030. The rebellion marks a significant challenge for Mr. Starmer, who is already facing declining popularity and trails the Reform U.K. party in opinion polls.
The move contrasts with Republican opposition to similar bills in the United States, where hundreds of billions of dollars in food benefits have been slashed. However, the U.K. government’s welfare cuts are expected to impact a significant number of people, including those who report anxiety and depression as their main condition. The Labour Party is divided on the issue, with some lawmakers opposing the changes and others supporting them.
The outcome of this rebellion highlights the ongoing divisions within the centre-left party, which may impact its ability to govern effectively. As the government navigates the challenges posed by welfare cuts, Mr. Starmer must balance competing interests and maintain public support for his policies.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/world/europe/uk-keir-starmer-welfare-cuts-rebellion.html