Labour rebels who forced Keir Starmer into a U-turn set to demand axe to two-child benefit cap
The reforms are expected to pass next Tuesday
'dog's dinner' Labour rebels who forced Keir Starmer into a U-turn set to demand axe to two-child benefit cap
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LABOUR rebels who forced Sir Keir Starmer into a U-turn are to demand the two-child benefit cap is axed.
The PM faces the fresh test after watering down a £5billion savings package amid backbench unrest.
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126 Labour MPs threatened to scupper the moves
Credit: PA
People down south currently receiving Personal Independence Payment and Universal Credit will continue to get them, with the cuts only hitting new claimants.
The Labour Government made the concession after 126 Labour MPs threatened to scupper the moves.
The reforms are expected to pass next Tuesday but experts warned tax rises may be needed to afford them.
And it emerged Labour rebels now have the two-child cap in their sights.
It follows an earlier climbdown on winter fuel payments.
The PIP changes don't affect Scots as it has been replaced here by the Adult Disability Payment.
But Nats ministers could be boosted by extra cash freed up by the U-turn — as the SNP pushes ahead with £150million plans to scrap the two-child cap in Scotland.
Nats MP Kirsty Blackman accused Labour of creating 'a dog's dinner of a system' down south that punishes the young and newly disabled.
She said: 'If these cuts go ahead, they'll embed discrimination, creating an unfair two-tier system. The SNP Scottish Government is clear it won't follow these discriminatory, two-tier disability cuts.'
Labour peer Lord Hutton accused Sir Keir of putting 'party before country' by caving in to rebels'.
Keir Starmer 'to BACK DOWN' on benefits cuts as he faces major revolt from MPs
But Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall downplayed Labour splits, insisting: 'We have listened to people.'
No10 claimed there would be no 'permanent' increase in borrowing as a result of the U-turn but declined to rule out tax rises to fund it.
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