SIR KEIR Starmer accepts the humiliating u-turn on benefits was his fault – revealing he has been distracted by global events.
The Prime Minister attempted to deflect attention away from top aides after 120-strong rebellion from Labour MPs were due to derail welfare reforms.
The acknowledgment comes as Sir Keir celebrates his one-year anniversary at Downing Street this Friday. However, his tenure has recently been overshadowed by policy reversals concerning winter fuel payments and the initiation of a grooming gang inquiry.
Existing claimants of personal independence payments and universal credit will continue to receive their benefits costing the Treasury £3 billion.
During a conversation with The Sunday Times, Sir Keir stated, “I’d have preferred to reach a more favorable agreement with colleagues sooner than we did — no doubt about that.”
He continued by saying, “Would I rather have achieved a constructive agreement with colleagues earlier? Absolutely, I would. However, I am focused on dealing with the realities we face, not an idealized version of the world.”
Sir Keir recognised that he has had a hectic time on the world stage in recent weeks heading to Canada for the G7 and then Nato in Holland for summits.
Throughout this time, a growing rebellion appears to have caught many in government by surprise leading to the u-turn.
The PM added: “I’m putting this as context rather than excuse: I was heavily focused on what was happening with Nato and the Middle East all weekend.
“I turned my attention fully to it [the welfare bill] when I got back from Nato on Wednesday night.
“Obviously in the course of the early part of this week we were busy trying to make sure Nato was a success.”
He also said: “From the moment I got back from the G7, I went straight into a Cobra meeting.
“My full attention really bore down on this on Thursday. At that point we were able to move relatively quickly.”
Meanwhile, Health Secretary Wes Streeting hinted that there could be more concessions to rebels as a review of the Pip payments is held.
He also appeared confident that the government will have the numbers to win the vote on Tuesday.
The Cabinet Minister told the BBC: “When things change and evolve as you bring in new systems, it does change sometimes from group to group, student finance being an example.
He said “we’ve got to listen” when asked if further concessions could be made on Pip payments.
Meanwhile, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham has called for the Ministers to start from scratch on the Bill saying the latest plans were “divisive and sinister”.
