SIR Keir Starmer has been forced into another humiliating welfare U-turn just hours before MPs vote on his flagship benefits crackdown.
The Prime Minister has scrapped plans to tighten disability benefit rules after furious backbenchers warned they would sink the controversial Bill.
Sir Stephen addressed the Commons by stating: “During this debate, several members have voiced their concerns that changes to PIP are being proposed before the conclusion of the review that I will be conducting.
“We have acknowledged these concerns, and thus, I can confirm that Clause Five will be removed from the Bill in committee. We will proceed directly to the extensive review… with any modifications to PIP eligibility only occurring after its completion.”
This last-minute decision significantly alters key sections of the Bill just 90 minutes prior to the scheduled vote, while Labour dissenters continue to threaten the bill’s passage.
The embarrassing climbdown is the second major U-turn in a week, after Sir Keir’s top team were already forced to water down the Bill in the face of open revolt.
Ministers had planned to overhaul Personal Independence Payment (PIP) rules from November 2026, meaning disabled claimants would need to score at least four points in one activity, such as washing, dressing, or preparing food, to get support.
Currently, people qualify by scoring a total of eight points across multiple tasks, making it easier to access the benefit.
Last week, Labour agreed to limit the crackdown to new claimants only after a backlash from MPs.
But under today’s latest retreat, the changes have now been shelved entirely — with no set date for when, or if, they will happen.
Sir Stephen confirmed the reforms will only take place after his full review of the PIP assessment process, due to conclude in autumn 2026.
It leaves Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ economic plans in disarray, as the welfare squeeze was originally designed to save £4.8 billion a year, later slashed to £2.3 billion after the first U-turn.
With the future of the crackdown now uncertain, billions in savings could be wiped out.
The latest retreat appeared to win round some Labour doubters.
Josh Fenton-Glynn, one of the 126 Labour MPs who signed the original rebel amendment last week, called the move “really good news” and said he wanted to support the Government at “every opportunity”.
But other MPs were left exasperated, with one saying no-one “knew what they were voting on anymore”.
Rebel ringleader Rachael Maskell vowed to press ahead with her bid to block the Bill altogether, warning: “The whole Bill is now unravelling and is a complete farce.
“What it won’t do is stop the suffering of disabled people which is why we are determined to go ahead with the reasoned amendment and attempt to vote down the Bill at second reading.”
Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, accused Labour ministers of “utter capitulation” and branded the legislation “pointless”.
She said: “They should bin it, do their homework, and come back with something serious. Starmer cannot govern.”
Despite the chaos, the crunch vote on the Bill is still expected to go ahead later tonight.
