Ex-Labour adviser blasts party for ‘treating MPs like c**p’ as Keir Starmer braces for huge backbench revolt

The rebellion against Starmer's welfare reforms has grown to unprecedented levels, with more than 125 MPs now signing an amendment to block the legislation from its first major vote next week.

Organisers of the revolt have compiled a "master list", showing 170 Labour MPs stating that they will either publicly or privately not support the Government.

Torbitt told The Peoples Channel: "I have very little sympathy for this. I think only this Labour Party, led by this Labour Prime Minister with the brains behind him, could embolden and actually empower the pathetic excuse of a Tory leader at the moment who makes the Tory party less relevant by the day.

"Totally serves them right. This is what happens when you treat MPs like c**p, to put it bluntly, and expect them to just go out as fodder for you take the hit, go out into the supermarkets in their constituencies, and get abused because all you've done is pass unpopular legislation that was never in your manifesto.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• ‘So awkward!’ Bev Turner’s hilarious reaction as Keir Starmer brushes shoulders with Donald Trump
• 'You don't care!' Tory MP brands welfare cuts 'cruel £5billion cash grab' in furious GB News clash
• Rachel Reeves issues warning to welfare rebels as Labour in 'panic mode'

"This is what happens when you push your child poverty strategy down the road and keep kicking it, while trying to pass legislation that will put seven hundred thousand people into poverty."

He added: "Part of it, I thought, was good the right to try, where people can go into work, and it’s not always easy for some people who may have been off work for a long, long time.

"They can try it, and they’re not going to get their benefits taken away at first. If they make that step, good.

"But then you come down on people being assessed who can’t cook, wash, or dress themselves in the morning being either forced into work that they’re unable to do or having their benefits cut.

WATCH: Angela Rayner confirms welfare bill Commons vote will go ahead

"I am of the view, as are many Labour MPs and people within the Labour Party, that you look after the most vulnerable in society. Those on the take the tiny minority yes, they cost us a load of money.

"But if you can’t dress yourself or wash yourself, that isn’t the sort of person who should be forced into work just because the Treasury says the sums don’t add up."

The rebellion includes two parliamentary private secretaries and three junior ministers who privately say they will vote against the Government, according to MPs involved.

This would represent the biggest show of Labour dissent during Starmer's premiership, despite the Prime Minister commanding a 156-seat majority in the House of Commons.

If 80 Labour MPs join the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats in voting against the Government, it would be sufficient to defeat the legislation and create a £5billion hole in the annual budget.

Ministers have escalated their warnings to potential rebels, with several MPs reporting they were told the vote would effectively be a confidence motion in Starmer's leadership.

"A senior minister had called them on Tuesday to say that a major rebellion next week 'would cause a fresh leadership contest' and that 'this could be the start of the end for Keir'," according to one Labour MP.

Another MP said ministers and whips were warning that a major rebellion "will result in a general election being called" and would "bring the Government down."

Starmer publicly stated on Tuesday that the second reading is "not a confidence vote."

The proposed welfare changes will affect approximately 800,000 people currently entitled to disability benefits, with many requiring assistance with basic daily tasks such as washing or using the toilet.