Humiliated Keir Starmer finally forces gutted welfare Bill through Commons - but 47 Labour MPs STILL vote against it

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

Keir Starmer has finally forced his gutted welfare proposals through the House of Commons - despite another Labour revolt.
Some 47 backbenchers rebelled against the changes, even though the PM had already caved in on all the key elements.
The latest humiliation came after ministers agreed disabled people will play a key role in a review of the system.
The PM has already humiliatingly dropped all measures on Personal Independence Payment (Pip) from the text to avoid defeat at the hands of rebels.
As a result the measures are expected to cost taxpayers more by 2029, instead of the £5billion of savings hoped for by ministers. That would still only have slowed the alarming surge in spending on health and disability benefits.
Embarrassingly Commons Clerks have insisted on renaming the legislation as the Universal Credit Bill to reflect its diminished status.
Labour rebels voted against the Bill despite Sir Keir's huge concessions
The third reading stage saw 47 Labour MPs vote against the Bill - including several elected only a year ago. Last week 49 voted against at second reading.
While the plans passed by 336 to 242, the size of the rebellion will cause alarm in No10 and pave the way for further clashes on policies unpopular with the Left.
Pressure has been mounting on Sir Keir to abolish the two-child cap on benefits.
MPs said the remaining clauses of the bill, which cuts the health element of Universal Credit for new claimants to £50 a week, will strip 750,000 sick and disabled people of £3,000 a year by 2030.
Leading rebel Rachael Maskell branded the bill an 'omnishambles', while Kim Johnson said it was 'an assault on disabled people'.
Ministers insisted the legislation, which now heads to the House of Lords, was 'built on fairness' and would remove 'perverse disincentives to work'.