Politics LIVE: Labour veteran warns Keir Starmer will be forced to resign if rebels topple welfare bill

Whips expecting Government to narrowly win tonight's vote

Government whips are expecting to narrowly avoid defeat in the vote on the welfare bill this evening.

Sources told The Times that around 50 Labour MPs will vote against the government, with a further 25 Labour MPs currently planning on abstaining.

Rebels would need a further 40 Labour MPs to abstain, or 20 to vote against the government, to kill the bill.

It comes as Labour MPs who were first elected in 2024 have been warned that they will not receive a job in the Government under Sir Keir Starmer if they abstain.

Kemi Badenoch says spending is 'spiralling' under Labour

Kemi Badenoch has warned that spending has been "spiralling" under Labour.

The Conservative leader said the welfare system has "become a trap" as she issued a warning to the Government.

Badenoch said: "We are staring down the barrel of a crisis that no serious government can ignore...The welfare system no longer works as it should, what was once a safety net has become a trap.

"A system designed to protect the most vulnerable is now encouraging dependency and dragging this country into deeper debt."

She noted that every working day, 3,000 people move onto incapacity benefits, adding: "That is a 50 per cent increase from when we left office...That is not normal, it is not sustainable and it is not acceptable."

Liz Kendall says people with severe, life-long health conditions will never be reassessed

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has confirmed people with severe, life-long health conditions will never be reassessed for their benefits.

She said this would end the "unnecessary and unacceptable stress and anxiety" reassessment can bring.

Sheffield South East MP Clive Betts intervened and told Kendall that it would be "far more logical" for the Government to conduct and conclude its review into Pip assessment before making changes to the system.

Kendall responded saying: "The purpose of the Pip review is to have a wider look at the assessment."

Sir Lindsay Hoyle confirms amendment to kill the bill will be voted on

Sir Lindsay Hoyle has confirmed a reasoned amendment aimed at halting the progress of the Government’s welfare reforms has been selected for separate decision.

The amendment, tabled by York Central MP Rachael Maskell, means that MPs will directly have a say if they oppose the reforms on the basis of concerns including a lack of consultation with disabled people.

Under Parliamentary rules, if this amendment passes, it will kill the bill. If this amendment is unsuccessful, then MPs will proceed to vote on the bill as a whole.

Liz Kendall defends bill in Commons - 'More sustainable footing'

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has made the case for getting more sick and disabled people back into work.

She said the bill aimed to: "Help people who can work to do so, protect those who cannot and begin to get the benefits bill on a more sustainable footing."

Downing Street denies reports Cabinet needs 'cheering up'

Downing Street dismissed suggestions the Prime Minister believed his front bench needed "cheering up”"after he used a Cabinet meeting to praise the Government’s record during its first year in office amid Labour splits over welfare.

A Number 10 spokesman said: "No, I think it’s a natural point at which to reflect on the first year in office, and as the Prime Minister detailed there are a number of achievements of which the Cabinet can rightly feel proud.

"But he is equally of the view that there is much still to be done."

Downing Street refuses to say if it was confident benefits bill will pass

A Downing Street spokesman declined to say whether it was confident that the controversial benefits reform bill will be supported by MPs on Tuesday evening.

Asked if the Prime Minister was confident it would pass its second reading vote, a spokesman said: "Well, I’m not going to pre-empt the vote. I think we’ve been consistent in our position on that, but also made the case for reform.

"And as I say, we’re not going to get ahead of the vote this evening."

The Prime Minister is "capable of doing lots of things in a day", the spokesman said, when asked if Starmer was aware of criticism that he had not engaged enough with his own MPs.

Jonathan Reynolds defends Labour's benefits Bill and vows to 'guarantee support those who need it'

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has defended the Government's Benefits Bill, telling GB News that it will "guarantee support for the people who need it most".

Speaking about the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill that will be voted on this evening, Reynolds acknowledged the difficulty of welfare reform, noting it was "why the Conservative Party didn't touch it".

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Nigel Farage welcomes Washington revoking Bob Vylan's visas

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has welcomed the announcement that punk band Bob Vylan had their US visas withdrawn ahead of their upcoming tour.

Following their appearance at Glastonbury Festival, deputy Secretary of State Chris Landau confirmed the visas for the duo had been revoked.

Responding to the announcement, Farage wrote on social media: "I heard you want your visa back", a reference to the duo's 2021 track: "I Heard You Want Your Country Back."

Benefits bill U-turn: What the changes mean for PIP and Universal Credit claimants

The Government has unveiled significant changes to its benefits reform plans ahead of today's crucial parliamentary vote on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.

Many Britons receiving these benefits may be wondering what this means for them.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced key concessions following pressure from Labour MPs and disability campaigners who warned the original proposals would cause undue hardship.

GB News has taken a look through the numbers and laid out what they mean.

READ OUR FULL EXPLAINER HERE

Timeline for today's crunch deal

As the clock counts down ahead of tonight's crucial benefits vote, the Prime Minister will be making last minute talks with the Cabinet before it arrives in the Commons

Here's the running order for today in Westminster:

• 9.30am - Sir Keir Starmer chairs a Cabinet meeting
• 11.30am - Chancellor Rachel Reeves takes questions in the Commons
• 12noon - Downing Street hosts a Lobby briefing with reporters
• 12.30pm - Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall opens the debate on the Universal Credit and Pip bill
• After 7pm - MPs vote on the bill

WATCH: Helen Whately blasts 'lame duck' Keir Starmer as migrant crossings surge

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately has launched a scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer, branding him a "lame duck" Prime Minister who has "lost control of the Government" after just one year in office.

Speaking to GB News, Whately declared that "Labour is in chaos" and accused the Prime Minister of being "unable to run the country."

The Conservative MP explained: “The Government is just in chaos. The welfare system urgently needs reform."

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Chris Philp says 'public are furious' over migrant numbers

Chris Philp has said the public are "furious" over Labour's inability to deal with the people smuggling gangs.

The Shadow Home Secretary told GB News: "One year into Labour’s government and the boats haven’t stopped, they’ve multiplied.

"Labour tore up our removals deterrent just before it was due to start with no replacement plan and they have lost control of our borders as a result.

"This is the worst year on record, and it’s become a free-for-all for illegal immigrants and people smugglers.

"The public are furious and rightly so. We urgently need a removals deterrent so every single illegal immigrant who arrives is removed to a location outside Europe.

"The deterrent effect means crossings would then rapidly stop, as they did when an Australia did something similar around 12 years ago."

Key Labour rebel says benefits bill is a 'shambles'

A key Labour rebel against the Government's benefits bill has said the party is in shambles adding that backbenchers are "furious" at the Prime Minister.

Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome said the concessions offered by the Prime Minister "aren’t enough."

She told Sky News: "If our party is being steered down the wrong path and if it won’t listen then many of us will side with our constituents and with Labour values.

"The process, it’s a shambles. And even MPs who are very reluctantly voting with the party out of party loyalty agree that it’s a shambles."

Migrant crisis: More than 20,000 small boat migrants have crossed English Channel so far this year

More than 20,000 small boat migrants have now crossed the English Channel so far this year, in more grim news for the Prime Minister's efforts to "smash the gangs".

GB News provisional figures for Monday show that 880 Channel migrants arrived in UK waters. That took the provisional total for the year to 19,983.

Now GB News can confirm the grim milestone figure of 20,000 was crossed at 2am today when another Border Force vessel arrived into Dover harbour with 60 migrants on board.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Rupert Lowe says Gaza visa scheme 'must not be allowed to happen'

Rupert Lowe has demanded that Labour do not go ahead with a proposed Ukraine-style visa for Gazans fleeing the heavily bombarded enclave.

A letter yesterday signed by 67 cross-party MPs and Lords, asked the Government to create a "Gaza Family Scheme" to "reunite [Palestinians] with their loved ones in the UK until it is safe to return" reports Sky News.

Reacting to this Lowe, the leader of Restore Britain and Great Yarmouth MP, said: "Dozens of MPs are pushing a refugee scheme for Palestinians. No, no, no.

"I do not want Gazan migrants claiming 'asylum' allowed into our country, and I make no apologies for stating that. This is a matter of national security. It must NOT be allowed to happen."

Andy Burnham calls on MPs to vote down benefits bill

Andy Burnham has called on Labour MPs to vote down the benefits bill later today,

The Greater Manchester Mayor, widely tipped as one of the most popular figures in the party, spoke out against the bill at Glastonbury Festival last weekend.

While he does not personally have a vote, he said: "What’s been announced is half a U-turn, a 50 per cent U-turn. In my view, I’d still hope MPs vote against the whole bill when it comes before parliament."

Meanwhile, one backbencher preparing to vote against the Bill told reporters: "A lot of people have been saying they’re upset about this for months.

"To leave it until a few days before the vote, it’s not a very good way of running the country. It’s not very grown up."

RECAP: Reform MP Sarah Pochin blasts Ben Habib as she delivers verdict on new party

Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin has brutally dismissed Ben Habib's launch of a new political party, branding the move "white noise".

Speaking to GB News, the MP for Runcorn and Helsby claimed she has "never met" the former Deputy Leader of Reform UK, and said Reform UK are the "only opposition" to Labour.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE.

Helen Whately confirms Tories will vote against 'rushed' bill

The Shadow Secretary for Work and Pensions has confirmed to GB News that the Conservatives will be voting against Labour's controversial benefits bill.

When asked by The People's Channel why the Tories were voting against the bill, Helen Whately said: "It's really bad legislation.

"It is rushed, unambitious, it doesn't save enough and doesn't fix the fundamental problems with the system."

British doctors to get priority for NHS jobs in new proposals

British doctors are set to get priority for NHS jobs under new plans to make the health service "self-sufficient" in staff.

Under new ten-year plans set to be published later this week, the Department for Health will commit to hiring no more than one in ten NHS recruits from overseas, promising reform to a system in which two thirds of new doctors come from abroad.

At the heart of Wes Streeting's plan is an attempt to create a "neighbourhood health service" through local care teams, alongside a "choice charter" that promises patients greater say over where and how they are treated, reports The Times.

Liz Kendall insists benefit reforms deliver a 'a fairer, more compassionate system'

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall that her flagship benefits legislation now aims to deliver a "fairer, more compassionate system" ahead of today's vote.

She said: "We must build a welfare system that provides security for those who cannot work and the right support for those who can.

"Too often, disabled people feel trapped, worried that if they try to work, they could lose the support they depend on.

"That is why we are taking action to remove those barriers, support disabled people to live with dignity and independence, and open routes into employment for those who want to pursue it.

"This is about delivering a fairer, more compassionate system as part of our Plan for Change which supports people to thrive, whatever their circumstances."

MP Richard Burgeon says reforms 'fly in the face' of what Labour is supposed to stand for

Richard Burgeon has suggested Labour's benefit reforms "fly in the face" of what his own party is supposed to stand for.

Writing in the Guardian, the MP for Leeds East said: "Should these cuts go ahead, approaching half a million disabled people will lose their personal independence payments between the end of next year and 2030.

"On average, they will lose £4,500 a year, about £100 a week. That’s a life-changing reduction for people who rely on Pip to help with the extra costs of disability, including the one in six Pip recipients who are in work.

"All this flies in the face of what should be a key purpose of every Labour government: to lift people out of poverty, not push them further into it.

"It’s no wonder that disabled people’s organisations, including Labour’s own affiliate Disability Labour, remain so firmly opposed to this bill."