FURIOUS Labour MPs are poised to rebel against Sir Keir Starmer because they think they’re toast at the next election.
Moderate backbenchers, who have up until now adhered to the party line, are considering taking a public stance on topics such as disability benefit reductions, immigration, and winter fuel payments—even if it results in losing party support.
There is also growing anger around the two-child benefit cap still being in place.
According to The Sun, some MPs wish to operate “with a clear conscience” for the remainder of this parliament, recognizing that their chances of re-election are slim due to the threat posed by Reform.
A Red Wall Labour MP said: “Multiple colleagues with slim majorities think they have no chance of winning their seat.
“They aim to hold the Prime Minister accountable for issues causing local discontent, which includes PIP payments, and believe they have nothing to lose by opposing party directives moving forward.”
More than 40 Labour MPs have signed their name to a letter describing disability cuts as “impossible to support”.
The Sun understands there are more who want to sign it – but fear their names being leaked and revealed in the media.
They want to come across as “genuine” when deciding to take a “principled stand” against the PM.
Another Labour MP told The Sun: “The numbers willing to rebel are much higher than expected.
“I think people shouldn’t underestimate just how much welfare is a driver of why a lot of Labour MPs, particularly moderates, are in the Labour party in the first place.
“A lot of our politics was defined by the performative cruelty of the Osborne era, and that casts a long shadow.”
Responding to the brewing anger in Labour ranks, Reform MP Lee Anderson said: “Not only has Starmer lost the backing of the country but also his own MPs, even they don’t trust him to cut immigration and look after our pensioners.
“Labour MPs have made their bed and now must lie in it thanks to voting for these disastrous policies.
“Come the next General Election, Reform will show Keir and his barmy set of MPs the door and the Red Wall be lost forever.”
