Sir Keir Starmer tells welfare rebels that benefits crackdown is ‘Labour cause’
SIR Keir Starmer told his welfare rebels last night that cracking down on benefits was a “Labour cause”.
At a tense meeting of MPs, the PM acknowledged they faced a “tough decision” to back his squeeze but warned he was not backing down.
He is currently battling a revolt of up to 170 Labour MPs, who have signed a secret letter expressing their fury at the PM’s cuts to disability benefits and slashing of winter fuel payments.
Speculation is mounting that ministers could soften the blow to pensioners by reinstating some of the cold-weather cash.
The issue was raised by several backbenchers last night who demanded he do a u-turn on the hated policy, as well as the benefits blitz.
A Labour source said: “The PM acknowledged that MPs are having to face incredibly tough decisions.
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“He talked about seeing the support that people need in his own constituency, but also the support that they want to get back into work.
"He described the welfare reforms that we are introducing as a Labour cause.”
On Monday a spokesperson for the PM refused to rule out a major u-turn.
Asked if the PM is reconsidering the policy, the spokesman said: “Means testing winter fuel payments was a difficult decision.
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"It was the right decision to stabilise the economy, allow the economy to grow and put more money in the pocket of working people.
"And our priority now is to ensure pensioners receive the financial support they deserve."
