Sir Keir Starmer has been left bracing for a huge backbench rebellion over his plan to cut Britain’s ballooning benefits bill by £5billion.
A staggering 70 Labour MPs signed an amendment demanding further consultation on Starmer’s welfare proposals.
The amendment, which has been led by Treasury Select Committee chair Meg Hillier, has also been signed by ex-Government Whip Vicky Foxcroft.
Foxcroft heaped pressure on No10 last week by resigning from her frontbench role.
Rebels have claimed that the amendment, which will be published on Tuesday, does not intend to wreck Labour’s welfare bill.
“We all want the Labour Government to succeed in getting people back into work and supporting those who can’t,” Hillier told The Guardian.
“We don’t want to defeat the Government but we want the government to think again.
“We are being asked to vote before consultation with disabled people and before impact assessments.”
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