‘Don’t punish the vulnerable’: Labour MPs uneasy over planned welfare cuts

Keir Starmer’s government insist that an overhaul of the health and disability benefits system will help the UK economically. Photograph: Kirsty O’Connor/PA

Dozens of backbench Labour MPs are unhappy with plans to cut billions from the rising welfare bill, with ministers holding meetings to convince them that the changes to disability benefits are necessary.

Labour MPs told the Guardian there were deep concerns within the parliamentary party that the changes would take money from the poorest, which was not what they had entered government to do.