Labour rebellion over special needs support backed by top Tory after 'sham' benefits bill: 'Keir Starmer has lost control!'

WATCH NOW: Shadow Policing Minister Matt Vickers speaks to GB News Breakfast

GB News
Georgia Pearce

By Georgia Pearce


Published: 07/07/2025

- 09:53

Updated: 07/07/2025

- 11:19

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson refused to confirm whether vulnerable pupils would have the legal right to support in schools

Shadow Policing Minister Matt Vickers has accused Sir Keir Starmer of "losing control of his party", amid claims of planned cuts to special educational needs support.

Speaking to GB News, Vickers said the Government's Benefits Bill and subsequent MP rebellion against the Prime Minister was a "sham".


On Sunday, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said Labour was committed to reforming help for children with learning difficulties or disabilities, but refused to guarantee that parents would retain the right to ensure their children receive bespoke support for their needs.

Labour MPs are now said to be poised for another rebellion against Sir Keir Starmer if the reforms go ahead.

Matt Vickers

Matt Vickers hit out at Labour's latest possible rebellion over special needs support for children

GB News

The Conservative MP supported potential backbench resistance over reforms to Special educational needs and disabilities (Send) provision.

"We saw it last week with that welfare bill that became an absolute sham," he said.

"I think it's right hopefully that some of those backbench MPs on the Labour benches are going to get stuck in and hold him to account," he stated.

The Shadow Minister emphasised the critical nature of Education Health Care Plans for vulnerable children.

"This is a really serious issue for many people across the country, for many constituents in my part of the world," Vickers told GB News.

He stressed these plans provide essential legal protections, saying: "Those education healthcare plans that give legal guarantees to young people with special educational needs that they can get the care and the support that they need in educational settings."

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Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer is facing another possible backbench rebellion over special needs support for children

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"They need protections. They need this support," he said, urging that "these youngsters can get the care and support that they need."

Vickers defended the Conservative Party's record on Send provision whilst acknowledging areas for improvement.

"Lots more to do, but actually record investment in creating Send school places and alternative provision. That's progress," he said.

The Shadow Minister addressed criticism of the previous Government's performance, telling GB News: "I'm sure the last Government got lots of things wrong, but by gum are this Government getting a lot more wrong."

Matt Vickers

Vickers told GB News that the Labour Government are 'getting a lot more wrong' than the Conservatives

GB News

He suggested the Conservatives should engage with current issues whilst providing context about their achievements.

"It's on us to get involved in the issues of the day, look at them in the context, and have the debate of the day," Vickers stated.

Vickers extended his criticism to Labour's broader economic management, adding: "We see the damage that this Labour government are doing to our economy and the cost that it's having for real people."

He highlighted several economic indicators of concern saying: "Unemployment on the rise, inflation almost doubled since this government came to office, and the amount of money that we're paying to borrow is now through the roof."

The Shadow Minister also raised concerns about public spending priorities: "The debt interest is high, and the amount of money we're spending on education, it's all going the wrong way."