Browsing: Keir Starmer

Chancellor Rachel Reeves was seen in tears during Prime Minister’s Questions after Labour was forced into a major U‑turn on welfare reforms, ditching planned cuts to disability benefits and abandoning a £5 billion-a-year saving target.

Starmer guts welfare reform to avert defeat in Commons | Wednesday’s newspapers
Wednesday’s newspaper front pages lead with the prime minister’s further concessions on his controversial welfare reforms. The late changes came ahead of the House of Commons vote to avoid an embarrassing defeat. The bill passed by 335 votes to 260.

The UK heatwave and Wimbledon find space on the front pages as tennis stars sizzled in the record-breaking temperatures.

The sports papers look ahead to this summer’s Women’s Euros as the Lionesses prepare to defend their crown.

Wednesday’s UK news continues to be dominated by the government’s welfare bill after ministers made last-minute concessions to avoid a possible defeat.

The bill passed by 335 votes to 260 – but 49 Labour MPs still voted against the government, while 18 others abstained.

The headlines react to the news that yesterday was the UK’s hottest day of the year so far as Britain battles a second heatwave of the summer. St James’s Park in London saw England’s hottest temperature reach 34.7C. Temperatures are set to cool down across the UK on Wednesday.

Cliff Notes Sir Keir Starmer’s welfare bill, despite facing a significant rebellion from 49 Labour MPs, passed its first hurdle…

Rebel Labour MPs received a last-minute concession concerning the welfare bill, ensuring changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility will only follow the completion of the Timms review, due in autumn 2026.

Labour MP Rachael Maskell criticises the government’s welfare reforms as “Dickensian,” urging colleagues to oppose a bill she believes fails to protect the poor.

The government has performed a U-turn on welfare reforms after pressure from 126 Labour backbenchers, who signed an amendment to stall the bill.

Despite its U-turn on its controversial welfare reforms last week, the prime minister will still face a test to his leadership when MPs vote today on his welfare reform bill.

The PM has been forced into a humiliating backdown on his controversial welfare reform, days after already making huge concessions. The PM’s bill passed in the Commons yesterday, but still saw 49 Labour MPs voting against it and 18 others abstaining.

It’s been a terrible time for the prime minister as of late, with him desperately needing to regain control of his party.

(Thursday, 3 July 2025) – The death of Liverpool FC player Diogo Jota dominates UK and global headlines. The Premier League, the FA and Liverpool are amongst those offering condolences after he died aged 28 in a car accident in Spain.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s tearful appearance at PMQs on Wednesday sparked concerns, with many seeing her tears as a sign she was about to lose her job. It caused market panic. No. 10 has since said it was a personal matter. PMQs came after Labour got their welfare bill passed, after making huge concessions. It’s been the story that’s dominated much of the news this week.

The Glastonbury row and the UK heatwave dominated much of the news at the beginning of the week.