Sir Keir Starmer's working majority in Parliament could be wiped out at a crunch vote after more than 100 MPs signed a letter condemning the Prime Minister's looming welfare cuts.
Last week, 42 MPs - largely on the party's left - signed a letter speaking out against the cuts.
They have now been joined by legions more, bringing the total to as many as 140.
The Government enjoys a working majority of 165, meaning that just 83 Labour MPs would have to rebel for its welfare plans to crumble at a vote in June.
Sir Keir Starmer's working majority in Parliament could be wiped out at a crunch vote
PA
The group is said to be angry at cuts to the health element of universal credit and is demanding a full assessment of the impact on disabled people.
Ministers have responded to the letter vowing to address their concerns, according to The Times, and are still confident that the rebellion will ultimately be contained to about a dozen MPs.
But the backlash comes as the Government is fending off fury at Starmer's "island of strangers" comments on migration on Monday, which left-wing critics inside the party and out have compared to Enoch Powell's infamous "Rivers of Blood" speech.
Left-wing Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy also lashed out at plans to retroactively enforce Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) - a proposal thrust into the limelight last year which Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is reportedly moving to put into law.
"Retrospectively applying immigration rules in bad faith can ruin lives, as we saw with the Windrush Scandal," Ribeiro-Addy said.
MORE LABOUR REBELLIONS:
- Keir Starmer faces ‘Poll Tax’ moment as Labour MPs revolt amid panic over Nigel Farage’s ‘working-class insurrection’
- Keir Starmer faces biggest rebellion yet as Labour MPs refuse to 'suck up' to PM 'sledgehammering' benefits bill
- ‘Increasingly untenable!’ Keir Starmer rocked by mass councillor exodus as Labour MPs plot ‘mother of all rebellions’
Yvette Cooper is reportedly moving to retroactively enforce Indefinite Leave to Remain
GB NEWS"It would be irresponsible for the Government to pull the rug out from under people who have worked, paid taxes and built their lives here."
But a report by the Centre for Migration Control earlier this year found that dependants of migrants, who also qualify for ILR, who entered the country since 2021 will cost taxpayers £35billion by 2028.
The Prime Minister and allies including Cabinet Office chief Pat McFadden have consistently defended his remarks, however.
"Honestly, I think this has been way overblown," McFadden told LBC.
Asked if he would use the phrase "island of strangers", he said: "It depends on the context.
"I mean, I might, because what the Prime Minister was talking about was, we need a society with rules. We need a society with responsibilities and obligations."
Treasury Minister Emma Reynolds has vowed that Labour would not be changing course
PA
While on welfare, Treasury Minister Emma Reynolds vowed that Labour would not be changing course.
"The Government has set out our plans, and we will continue to discuss them with backbenchers," she said.
"Government is always about those discussions with colleagues in our party. We have a large majority, of course, and we need to ensure that we continue to discuss what are very sensitive issues with colleagues."
"Labour MPs are an incredibly important part of our efforts to reform this system, but also get the economy growing. That's the normal business of Government. That’s what governments do," she added.
