Watch live: Starmer addresses business leaders amid welfare rebellion
He told the British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference in London that firms were responsible for 'creating the jobs, the wealth, the tax receipts that means that we have the opportunity to change our country for the better'.
The Prime Minister said: 'I fully acknowledge, and I do acknowledge here, that this year, as we've had to fix the foundations of our country, deal with the unprecedented mess that we inherited, we have asked a lot of you.
'I understand that and I want to acknowledge that.'
It comes as ministers discuss the prospect of further concessions to win over a growing list of Labour MPs poised to rebel against planned welfare reforms ahead of a crunch vote next week.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said talks between backbenchers and Government were 'ongoing' on Wednesday night as Downing Street seeks to head off what would be Sir Keir Starmer's first Commons defeat.
It came as six more Labour MPs added their names to an amendment that would halt the legislation in its tracks, arguing disabled people have not been properly consulted and further scrutiny of the changes is needed.
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Telegraph
16 minutes ago
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Bereft and imprisoned, Reeves looked how the voters feel
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The Independent
21 minutes ago
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Britain's Starmer backs his Treasury chief after U-turns dent the government's fiscal plans
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I had a gastric sleeve operation and have been taking Mounjaro for ten months but still can't cut out my favourite treats. This is my radical plan for finally tackling the nation's obesity problem: JENNI MURRAY
Four years ago, I had to ban myself from entering Marks & Spencer's Food Hall. It used to be my favourite supermarket but I realised I was too weak to resist the many temptations on offer. I vowed I'd only buy my groceries online. But in November, I had to buy petrol and the nearest pumps were attached to an M&S. Oh the horror when I realised I would have to go into the shop to pay for my petrol, to walk past the shelves of cakes and pizzas I'd forbidden myself.
