Prime Minister Keir Starmer has insisted he will lead Labour into the next general election despite facing a major rebellion over welfare reforms that could see more than 120 of his own MPs vote against the Government next week.
Speaking to GB News Political Correspondent Katherine Forster at the NATO summit, Starmer expressed confidence in his leadership when questioned about his political future.
"Very confident," he told Katherine when asked if he would be in position to see his long-term plans come to fruition. "We were voted in absolutely clearly saying we need a decade of national renewal."
The Prime Minister added: "It's really important I lead from the front and take the long term decisions for the future of this country."
Keir Starmer was grilled by GB News's Katherine Forster
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His comments come as 122 Labour MPs have now backed a reasoned amendment that would effectively kill the Government's welfare reform bill when it comes to a vote next Tuesday.
The rebellion has grown from 108 MPs earlier this week, with new signatories including Alex Sobel, Danny Beales, Josh Dean and Naz Shah joining the revolt against the proposed cuts to benefits.
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The reforms, which would save the Treasury £5bn annually, would reduce personal independence payments for disabled people and limit Universal Credit eligibility.
As many as 12 ministers are reportedly considering rebelling against the legislation, prompting speculation about whether Starmer could survive a potential defeat.
Sir Keir Starmer speaks at Nato summitGB NewsThe Prime Minister has denied it is a confidence vote, saying the legislation is about "reforming our welfare system."
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner defended the reforms during Prime Minister's Questions whilst Starmer attended the NATO summit, telling MPs the Government "won't walk away and abandon millions of people trapped in the system."
When pressed by Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride about the 122 Labour rebels, Rayner insisted: "I don't need a script - we will go ahead on Tuesday."
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has offered to rescue the legislation, but with conditions including further benefit cuts and no new tax rises.
Starmer was with Trump at the NATO summit
GB NEWS"If Keir Starmer wants our support, he needs to meet three conditions that align with our core Conservative principles," Badenoch said.
Fire Brigades Union general secretary Steve Wright called the prospect of relying on Tory votes "a shameful thing for any Labour Prime Minister to do."
Starmer defended the reforms during his press conference, arguing that the current welfare system is "broken" and "traps people."
"The additions to PIP each year are the equivalent of the population of a city the size of Leicester. That is not a system that can be left unreformed, not least because it's unsustainable," he said.
The Prime Minister challenged his critics directly: "Those that care about a future welfare system have to answer the question – 'how do you reform what you've got to make sure it's sustainable for the future?'"
He emphasised that Labour was elected to "change what is broken in our country" and vowed to press ahead with the reforms despite the mounting opposition from his own backbenchers.
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