Keir Starmer temporarily fights off Labour rebels as benefits bill passes after last-minute concessions

What happens next after the vote today?

Labour has pledged to make the necessary amendments to remove the Pip changes from the bill when it returns to the Commons next week.

The bill will continue through Parliament, becoming law when approved by both MPs and peers.

However, the repercussions from today will take time to resolve.

Sir Keir Starmer now has the task of improving relations in the party, with Liz Kendall saying the party is "100 per cent" behind the Prime Minister.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has an issue of resolving savings after several concessions have hit her projected savings of £4.8billion.

MPs will wait for Sir Stephen Timms' review, which will influence how the Government approaches Pip eligibility.

'Today was a prime a example in how not to legislate': Labour rebel slams own party with management of welfare bill

Labour MP Brian Leishman, who was one of 49 Labour MPs rebelling against the Government, said: "Today was a prime example in how not to legislate."

The MP for Alloa and Grangemouth called on ministers to withdraw the bill despite passing its second reading.

He said: "A shambolic afternoon with policy being made up off the cuff and on the notion of promises to come.

"The Government should do the honourable and decent thing and withdraw this dreadful bill."

How MPs voted on the Government's welfare reforms

Some 596 MPs have voted on the second reading of Labour's welfare reforms bill.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey voted against the benefits bill.

Notably, Labour MP Diane Abbot voted against the bill, as well as Imran Hussain who was openly critical of the bill in the Chamber before the vote.

Senior Labour MPs Yvette Cooper, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner unsurprisingly backed Keir Starmer's bill.

Notable names who did not vote include Gavin Williamson, Chris Philp and Jeremy Hunt.

Liz Kendall insists Labour Party is 100 per cent behind the Prime Minister

Liz Kendall has insisted the Labour Party is "100 per cent" behind Sir Keir Starmer, telling broadcasters there were "lessons to be learned" after a rebellion in the party.

Some 126 Labour MPs initially rebelled against the welfare reform bill, with 49 MPs still voting against its second reading.

Kendall said: "They were elected on a mandate for change. There are definitely lessons to learn from this process. I certainly will do that, and I'm sure my colleagues will too."

All other parties vote against Labour's benefits bill second reading

Besides three Independent MPs, no other MPs who weren't Labour voted in favour of the Government's second reading.

Some 100 Tory MPs, 70 Liberal Democrats and 49 Labour MPs voted against the bill.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was joined by three other members from his party who voted against the welfare reform bill.

The only one to miss out was Lee Anderson, who did not vote.

WATCH NOW: MPs vote to pass welfare bill after second reading

MPs now voting on welfare reform bill

MPs have now started voting on the second reading of the welfare reform bill.

The second voting follows MPs initially voting against the amendment to reject the Government's welfare bill.

MPs voted 149 for to 328 against. The bill has now gone to a vote with the outcome coming soon.

MPs voting on rebel amendment

MPs are now voting on a rebel amendment put forward by Labour MP Rachael Maskell.

If passed, it would kill the Government's welfare bill. Results are expected to arrive at 7.15pm.

What you need to know before MPs vote on Labour's benefits bill

• Scheduled to take place at 7pm, MPs will vote on the second reading of Labour's welfare reforms bill
• In the last couple of hours, in a bid to win over Labour rebels, the Government have altered the bill so that Pip eligibility will be delayed until Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms' review
• Leader of the Conservatives, Kemi Badenoch, said the Tories will be voting against the proposal
• The Government said the bill could save up to £5billion
• Some 126 Labour MPs initially rebelled against the bill, with Sir Keir Starmer U-turning multiple times to try to get the reading passed
• Leader of the rebels, Rachael Maskell, has called the bill a "complete farce", saying "the whole bill is now unravelling"

Kemi Badenoch calls welfare bill 'pointless' as vote looms

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has called Labour's welfare bill "pointless", describing the whole situation as an "utter capitulation".

In a post on X, Badenoch said: "This is an utter capitulation. Labour's welfare Bill is now a TOTAL waste of time. It effectively saves £0, helps no one into work, and does NOT control spending.

"It's pointless. They should bin it, do their homework, and come back with something serious. Starmer cannot govern."

Starmer's back down may see second reading of bill get over the line

Some former Labour rebels appear to have had their worries calmed by the Government's latest back down.

Labour MP Josh Fenton-Glynn, who was one of 126 Labour MPs originally against the bill, described the move as "really good news".

Fenton-Glynn noted that he is glad the Pip eligibility will be delayed until after the Timms review.

However, other Labour MPs can't keep up with the amount of changes, with one telling PA news agency that no one "knew what they were voting on anymore".

Disabled Labour MP vows to vote against bill 'with a heavy, broken heart'

Disabled Labour MP Dr Marie Tidball emotively told the Commons that she will be voting against the bill "with a heavy, broken heart".

Tidball said that as "one of the only visible physically disabled members of Parliament”, the benefits system was "broken by the Conservative legacy of austerity and their monumental mishandling of the Covid pandemic".

The MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge warned that the "proposed changes at committee stage are still currently projected to put 150,000 people into poverty".

She said: "I cannot accept this, nor a proposed point system under current descriptors, which would exclude eligibility for those who cannot put on their underwear, prosthetic limbs or shoes without support."

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn calls for welfare bill to be 'withdrawn altogether'

Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the welfare bill has been driven by a "bad source" and should be "withdrawn".

The independent MP for Islington North said the bill has not been in the interest of the disabled community, as it is being driven to "save £5billion".

Corbyn said: "It would have been much better and much more honest if the Government simply now withdrew this bill altogether."

Referring to previous Labour acts that supported people with disabilities, Corbyn stated: "What has happened that the whole tradition seems to have been stood on its head? We are now presented with a piece of legislation that is going to take the Pip away from a very large number of people."

'Please do not do this': Labour MP pledges to vote against welfare bill with fears disabled people will be worse off

Labour MP Emma Lewell said she is "sad that we've ended up here," as she plans to vote against the Government's welfare reform bill.

Lewell warned MPs backing the bill that their constituents will "never forgive" those who supported the reforms.

She said: "I am sad that we have ended up here because no matter what, regardless of concessions, a vote for this bill today is a vote to plunge 150,000 people into poverty and to tighten eligibility criteria for those who need support the most.

"We are once again making disabled people pay the price for the economic mess that the party opposite left us. As it stands, we are being asked to vote blind today.

"I am pleading with MPs today, please do not do this."

Liberal Democrats confirm they will vote to kill 'unjust' benefits bill

The Liberal Democrats have confirmed they will be voting for the Maskell amendment, in opposition to Labour.

Steve Darling, the party's work and pension spokesman, said it is "shameful" the way the bill is being rushed through.

Darling, the MP for Torbay, said: "This two-tier approach to this system is wrong, and I and the Liberal Democrats have grave concerns that this is unBritish, it’s unjust …

"We’ve heard from the minister saying it’s been done before. But that doesn’t make it right.

"It is almost Orwellian that we will be having a system where in our law, we say that all disabled people are equal, but some are more equal than others."

Esther McVey calls bill 'morally unacceptable'

Former Tory work and pensions secretary Esther McVey questioned the legality of the Government’s Pip policy, calling it "morally unacceptable."

She asked: "Has the Government taken legal advice as to whether it is lawful to treat people with the same conditions, disabilities and circumstances differently within the benefits system?

"It is morally unacceptable, but does the minister believe it is lawful?"

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: "I would just remind (her) that her own party had different rules and different rates for people on existing, compared to new, benefits in future.

"That is something they did. Once again, members opposite seem to be railing at the very problems they caused."

Whips expecting Government to narrowly win tonight's vote

Government whips are expecting to narrowly avoid defeat in the vote on the welfare bill this evening.

Sources told The Times that around 50 Labour MPs will vote against the government, with a further 25 Labour MPs currently planning on abstaining.

Rebels would need a further 40 Labour MPs to abstain, or 20 to vote against the government, to kill the bill.

It comes as Labour MPs who were first elected in 2024 have been warned that they will not receive a job in the Government under Sir Keir Starmer if they abstain.

Kemi Badenoch says spending is 'spiralling' under Labour

Kemi Badenoch has warned that spending has been "spiralling" under Labour.

The Conservative leader said the welfare system has "become a trap" as she issued a warning to the Government.

Badenoch said: "We are staring down the barrel of a crisis that no serious government can ignore...The welfare system no longer works as it should, what was once a safety net has become a trap.

"A system designed to protect the most vulnerable is now encouraging dependency and dragging this country into deeper debt."

She noted that every working day, 3,000 people move onto incapacity benefits, adding: "That is a 50 per cent increase from when we left office...That is not normal, it is not sustainable and it is not acceptable."

Liz Kendall says people with severe, life-long health conditions will never be reassessed

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has confirmed people with severe, life-long health conditions will never be reassessed for their benefits.

She said this would end the "unnecessary and unacceptable stress and anxiety" reassessment can bring.

Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts intervened and told Kendall that it would be "far more logical" for the Government to conduct and conclude its review into Pip assessment before making changes to the system.

Kendall responded saying: "The purpose of the Pip review is to have a wider look at the assessment."

Sir Lindsay Hoyle confirms amendment to kill the bill will be voted on

Sir Lindsay Hoyle has confirmed a reasoned amendment aimed at halting the progress of the Government’s welfare reforms has been selected for separate decision.

The amendment, tabled by York Central MP Rachael Maskell, means that MPs will directly have a say if they oppose the reforms on the basis of concerns including a lack of consultation with disabled people.

Under Parliamentary rules, if this amendment passes, it will kill the bill. If this amendment is unsuccessful, then MPs will proceed to vote on the bill as a whole.

Liz Kendall defends bill in Commons - 'More sustainable footing'

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has made the case for getting more sick and disabled people back into work.

She said the bill aimed to: "Help people who can work to do so, protect those who cannot and begin to get the benefits bill on a more sustainable footing."

Downing Street denies reports Cabinet needs 'cheering up'

Downing Street dismissed suggestions the Prime Minister believed his front bench needed "cheering up”"after he used a Cabinet meeting to praise the Government’s record during its first year in office amid Labour splits over welfare.

A Number 10 spokesman said: "No, I think it’s a natural point at which to reflect on the first year in office, and as the Prime Minister detailed there are a number of achievements of which the Cabinet can rightly feel proud.

"But he is equally of the view that there is much still to be done."

Downing Street refuses to say if it was confident benefits bill will pass

A Downing Street spokesman declined to say whether it was confident that the controversial benefits reform bill will be supported by MPs on Tuesday evening.

Asked if the Prime Minister was confident it would pass its second reading vote, a spokesman said: "Well, I’m not going to pre-empt the vote. I think we’ve been consistent in our position on that, but also made the case for reform.

"And as I say, we’re not going to get ahead of the vote this evening."

The Prime Minister is "capable of doing lots of things in a day", the spokesman said, when asked if Starmer was aware of criticism that he had not engaged enough with his own MPs.

Jonathan Reynolds defends Labour's benefits Bill and vows to 'guarantee support those who need it'

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has defended the Government's Benefits Bill, telling GB News that it will "guarantee support for the people who need it most".

Speaking about the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill that will be voted on this evening, Reynolds acknowledged the difficulty of welfare reform, noting it was "why the Conservative Party didn't touch it".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Nigel Farage welcomes Washington revoking Bob Vylan's visas

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has welcomed the announcement that punk band Bob Vylan had their US visas withdrawn ahead of their upcoming tour.

Following their appearance at Glastonbury Festival, deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau confirmed the visas for the duo had been revoked.

Responding to the announcement, Farage wrote on social media: "I heard you want your visa back", a reference to the duo's 2021 track: "I Heard You Want Your Country Back."

Benefits bill U-turn: What the changes mean for PIP and Universal Credit claimants

The Government has unveiled significant changes to its benefits reform plans ahead of today's crucial parliamentary vote on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.

Many Britons receiving these benefits may be wondering what this means for them.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced key concessions following pressure from Labour MPs and disability campaigners who warned the original proposals would cause undue hardship.

GB News has taken a look through the numbers and laid out what they mean.

READ OUR FULL EXPLAINER HERE

Timeline for today's crunch deal

As the clock counts down ahead of tonight's crucial benefits vote, the Prime Minister will be making last minute talks with the Cabinet before it arrives in the Commons

Here's the running order for today in Westminster:

• 9.30am - Sir Keir Starmer chairs a Cabinet meeting
• 11.30am - Chancellor Rachel Reeves takes questions in the Commons
• 12noon - Downing Street hosts a Lobby briefing with reporters
• 12.30pm - Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall opens the debate on the Universal Credit and Pip bill
• After 7pm - MPs vote on the bill

WATCH: Helen Whately blasts 'lame duck' Keir Starmer as migrant crossings surge

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately has launched a scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer, branding him a "lame duck" Prime Minister who has "lost control of the Government" after just one year in office.

Speaking to GB News, Whately declared that "Labour is in chaos" and accused the Prime Minister of being "unable to run the country."

The Conservative MP explained: “The Government is just in chaos. The welfare system urgently needs reform."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Chris Philp says 'public are furious' over migrant numbers

Chris Philp has said the public are "furious" over Labour's inability to deal with the people smuggling gangs.

The Shadow Home Secretary told GB News: "One year into Labour’s government and the boats haven’t stopped, they’ve multiplied.

"Labour tore up our removals deterrent just before it was due to start with no replacement plan and they have lost control of our borders as a result.

"This is the worst year on record, and it’s become a free-for-all for illegal immigrants and people smugglers.

"The public are furious and rightly so. We urgently need a removals deterrent so every single illegal immigrant who arrives is removed to a location outside Europe.

"The deterrent effect means crossings would then rapidly stop, as they did when an Australia did something similar around 12 years ago."

Key Labour rebel says benefits bill is a 'shambles'

A key Labour rebel against the Government's benefits bill has said the party is in shambles adding that backbenchers are "furious" at the Prime Minister.

Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome said the concessions offered by the Prime Minister "aren’t enough."

She told Sky News: "If our party is being steered down the wrong path and if it won’t listen then many of us will side with our constituents and with Labour values.

"The process, it’s a shambles. And even MPs who are very reluctantly voting with the party out of party loyalty agree that it’s a shambles."

Migrant crisis: More than 20,000 small boat migrants have crossed English Channel so far this year

More than 20,000 small boat migrants have now crossed the English Channel so far this year, in more grim news for the Prime Minister's efforts to "smash the gangs".

GB News provisional figures for Monday show that 880 Channel migrants arrived in UK waters. That took the provisional total for the year to 19,983.

Now GB News can confirm the grim milestone figure of 20,000 was crossed at 2am today when another Border Force vessel arrived into Dover harbour with 60 migrants on board.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Rupert Lowe says Gaza visa scheme 'must not be allowed to happen'

Rupert Lowe has demanded that Labour do not go ahead with a proposed Ukraine-style visa for Gazans fleeing the heavily bombarded enclave.

A letter yesterday signed by 67 cross-party MPs and Lords, asked the Government to create a "Gaza Family Scheme" to "reunite [Palestinians] with their loved ones in the UK until it is safe to return" reports Sky News.

Reacting to this Lowe, the leader of Restore Britain and Great Yarmouth MP, said: "Dozens of MPs are pushing a refugee scheme for Palestinians. No, no, no.

"I do not want Gazan migrants claiming 'asylum' allowed into our country, and I make no apologies for stating that. This is a matter of national security. It must NOT be allowed to happen."

Andy Burnham calls on MPs to vote down benefits bill

Andy Burnham has called on Labour MPs to vote down the benefits bill later today,

The Greater Manchester Mayor, widely tipped as one of the most popular figures in the party, spoke out against the bill at Glastonbury Festival last weekend.

While he does not personally have a vote, he said: "What’s been announced is half a U-turn, a 50 per cent U-turn. In my view, I’d still hope MPs vote against the whole bill when it comes before parliament."

Meanwhile, one backbencher preparing to vote against the Bill told reporters: "A lot of people have been saying they’re upset about this for months.

"To leave it until a few days before the vote, it’s not a very good way of running the country. It’s not very grown up."

RECAP: Reform MP Sarah Pochin blasts Ben Habib as she delivers verdict on new party

Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin has brutally dismissed Ben Habib's launch of a new political party, branding the move "white noise".

Speaking to GB News, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby claimed she has "never met" the former Deputy Leader of Reform UK, and said Reform UK are the "only opposition" to Labour.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Helen Whately confirms Tories will vote against 'rushed' bill

The Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions has confirmed to GB News that the Conservatives will be voting against Labour's controversial benefits bill.

When asked by The People's Channel why the Tories were voting against the bill, Helen Whately said: "It's really bad legislation.

"It is rushed, unambitious, it doesn't save enough and doesn't fix the fundamental problems with the system."

British doctors to get priority for NHS jobs in new proposals

British doctors are set to get priority for NHS jobs under new plans to make the health service "self-sufficient" in staff.

Under new ten-year plans set to be published later this week, the Department for Health will commit to hiring no more than one in ten NHS recruits from overseas, promising reform to a system in which two thirds of new doctors come from abroad.

At the heart of Wes Streeting's plan is an attempt to create a "neighbourhood health service" through local care teams, alongside a "choice charter" that promises patients greater say over where and how they are treated, reports The Times.

Liz Kendall insists benefit reforms deliver a 'a fairer, more compassionate system'

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall that her flagship benefits legislation now aims to deliver a "fairer, more compassionate system" ahead of today's vote.

She said: "We must build a welfare system that provides security for those who cannot work and the right support for those who can.

"Too often, disabled people feel trapped, worried that if they try to work, they could lose the support they depend on.

"That is why we are taking action to remove those barriers, support disabled people to live with dignity and independence, and open routes into employment for those who want to pursue it.

"This is about delivering a fairer, more compassionate system as part of our Plan for Change which supports people to thrive, whatever their circumstances."

MP Richard Burgeon says reforms 'fly in the face' of what Labour is supposed to stand for

Richard Burgeon has suggested Labour's benefit reforms "fly in the face" of what his own party is supposed to stand for.

Writing in the Guardian, the MP for Leeds East said: "Should these cuts go ahead, approaching half a million disabled people will lose their personal independence payments between the end of next year and 2030.

"On average, they will lose £4,500 a year, about £100 a week. That’s a life-changing reduction for people who rely on Pip to help with the extra costs of disability, including the one in six Pip recipients who are in work.

"All this flies in the face of what should be a key purpose of every Labour government: to lift people out of poverty, not push them further into it.

"It’s no wonder that disabled people’s organisations, including Labour’s own affiliate Disability Labour, remain so firmly opposed to this bill."