Sir Keir Starmer now faces a "massive Labour showdown" after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner confirmed next week's crunch Commons vote will get the go-ahead, a top political journalist has claimed.
Rayner, who was standing in for Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions against Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride, today confirmed to the House of Commons that a vote on the Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill will take place next week.
The Bill, which would cut welfare benefits for thousands of Britons, is set to be slapped down by more than 130 Labour MPs in Starmer's biggest rebellion since entering No10.
However, The i Paper's chief political commentator, Kitty Donaldson, issued a stark warning to the Prime Minister after today's announcement.
Keir Starmer was warned by Kitty Donaldson of a 'massive Labour showdown'
PA/GB NEWS
Donaldson told the People's Channel: "At the moment they think they won't lose, they think that the rebellion might melt away.
"And some insiders are saying that actually perhaps the Speaker might not select this amendment and therefore it won't be an issue. However, I think that's probably unlikely."
Having spoken to some of the Labour rebels, Donaldson revealed: "I think they will try very hard over the weekend to try and find some way to climb down slightly.
"But I've been speaking to rebels this morning and they're saying, actually, there's nothing the Government can give us now that will make us back down. So we're looking at a massive showdown next week."
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Angela Rayner confirmed the vote on the welfare bill will take place next week
PANoting the widespread speculation surrounding the welfare vote taking place, Donaldson suggested Rayner was almost forced to confirm the vote will be taking place to settle "Government rumours".
Donaldson explained: "Members of the Government were speculating that the Bill could be pulled as early as today, and the reason for that was that Lucy Powell, who's the leader of the House of Commons, has to stand up tomorrow at the business statement and say, this is what's happening next week.
"And so MPs were saying, well, this has got to be pulled by this evening basically. There's been a flurry of reaction across Whitehall and in No10 this morning, messages flying backwards and forwards saying, we have no plans to do this.
"But it's a sign of how widespread these rumours were that Angela Rayner had to stand up at Deputy Prime Minister's Questions and insist that the Bill will go ahead next Tuesday."
Donaldson told GB News that rebels have declared there is 'nothing that can stop them' voting against it
GB News
During Prime Minister's Questions, the Deputy Prime Minister was asked by Stride whether the vote would go ahead next Tuesday. Rayner confirmed: "We will go ahead on Tuesday."
Stride responded: "There you have it Mr Speaker, there will be a vote in this House on Tuesday on the welfare Bill, although many on the backbenches could be forgiven for thinking they've heard this all before on the Winter Fuel Payment, where they were marched up the hill, and we all know where that story ended.
"But Mr Speaker, on this side of the house we are absolutely clear, we will help her to get their Bill through if they can commit to actually reducing the welfare bill and getting people off benefits and into work."
Rayner then quipped: "Well if ever we needed a reminder of the party opposite having no shame to assert their demands for this Bill Mr Speaker… They say cut welfare bill. They failed. They say cut people in work. They failed. they say no tax increases. They failed."
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