Labour rebels could topple Sir Keir Starmer by mounting a rebellion against plans to cut Britain's ballooning benefits bill, allies of the Prime Minister have warned disgruntled MPs.
A Labour MP claimed that the Prime Minister's top team has been trying to dissuade rebels by saying that the revolt could "result in a General Election being called” and that it could "bring the Government down”.
Another MP said that they had been told that next week's rebellion "would cause a fresh leadership contest" and that "this could be the start of the end for Keir".
However, some rebels were left un-phased by the stark warnings from the Whips Office.
“I would be happy to see a leadership contest, I think perhaps it’s time for change,” a Labour MP told The Financial Times.
Despite talk of Starmer's premiership being under threat, the Prime Minister said that the second reading of the welfare bill is not being treated as a confidence vote.
“It’s not a confidence vote," Starmer told Sky News. "It’s a vote about reforming our welfare system."
“It isn’t working. It doesn’t help people into work. Quite the contrary, it actually makes it harder for people to go into work.
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Sir Keir Starmer
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"I think most colleagues do accept the case for reform, we’ve got to get on and make that reform.”
Starmer's welfare legislation, which would result in around 800,000 fewer people being entitled to disability benefits is expected to claw back £5billion, will return to the House of Commons next Tuesday.
More than 125 Labour MPs have signed an amendment which would force Starmer's Government to receive analysis from the Office for Budget Responsibility about the impact of his cuts.
Whitehall's own impact assessment estimates that 250,000 people will be pushed into poverty as a result of the provisions, including 50,000 children.
READ IN FULL:Keir Starmer hit by frontbench resignation as Labour rebels plot to defeat PM over £5bn benefits cut
Liz Kendall
PAA "master list" compiled by leading members of revolt has also tallied the number of Labour MPs opposing Starmer's cuts either publicly or privately at 170.
Starmer, who was swept into No10 with a majority of 156 seats, would only need to lose 80 Labour MPs to potentially suffer defeat in the House of Commons.
However, Kemi Badenoch's Tories have provided an escape route for the Prime Minister, setting out three conditions which would result in Conservative MPs supporting the Labour Government.
The Leader of the Opposition said: "I'm just making it very clear to Keir Starmer that if he will make commitments at the despatch box to meet our conditions which are to reduce the welfare budget, to get people into work and not to have tax rises, then we can support his bill.
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Keir StarmerPA"The bill is a bit of a mess. It needs some work. It looks like it's been rushed for Rachel [Reeves] to fix other problems that they've got. But our welfare budget is far too high, and we really need to bring it down."
The welfare bill has resulted in a number of major political headaches for the Prime Minister, including the shock frontbench resignation of Government Whip Vicky Foxcroft last week.
Foxcroft, who served as Lord Commissioner of the Treasury, said in her 535-word letter: "I do not believe that cuts to personal independence payment (PIP) and the health element of Universal Credit should be part of the solution."
And Work & Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is struggling to win back rebellious Labour backbenchers.
RESIGNATION WATCH LATEST:‘Starting to unravel!’ Keir Starmer warned premiership is at risk as Labour MPs plot rebellion
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage
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“They’ve tried hard today and everyone has just stayed firm,” a Labour MP warned.
However, fears of a General Election come less than a year after Starmer romped to victory.
Opinion polls now suggest that Nigel Farage's Reform UK could emerge as the largest party, potentially snatching a seismic victory having returned just five MPs in the 2024 General Election.
The latest Ipsos survey revealed that Reform UK's support now stands at 34 per cent, nine-points clear of Starmer's Labour.
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