Rachel Reeves has issued a warning to Labour rebels over the Government's controversial welfare reforms as one minister said the mood in the party was one of "panic".
Last night, the tally of rebels stood at 123 Labour MPs, up from 108, plus 11 MPs from opposition parties, all from Northern Ireland.
The row all focuses on proposed reforms that make it harder to claim the main disability benefit, personal independence payments (PIP).
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that he would press ahead with the overhaul, insisting there was a "clear moral case" for change.
Labour has been at loggerheads over the controversial bill
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However, things were plunged into chaos with ire directed at the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff and key ally, Morgan McSweeney.
One minister told The Times: "Morgan is completely off his rocker."
Reeves, alongside her sister Ellie, current Labour party chair, were accused of driving a wedge between the cabinet and backbenchers.
Another minister said the mood in the party was one of "panic."
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Downing Street chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney
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Then, in another bombshell, one Labour insider told MailOnline: "The whole thing is a massive f**k you to Keir and Rachel."
Responding to claims from a minister that this vote "could be the start of the end for Keir", one Labour MP told Politico: "I would be happy to see a leadership contest, I think perhaps it’s time for change."
Asked if the vote would be internally treated as a confidence vote in his leadership, Starmer replied: "It’s not a confidence vote. It’s a vote about reforming our welfare system."
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner told the Commons later in the day that a debate on the Bill would go ahead next Tuesday as planned.
Angela Rayner speaking in the Commons earlier today
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Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride responded in the Commons: "There you have it, there will be a vote in this House on Tuesday on the welfare Bill, although many on the backbenches could be forgiven for thinking they’ve heard this before with the winter fuel payment, where they were marched up the hill, and we all know where that story ended.
"But on this side of the House, we’re absolutely clear, we will help her to get their Bill through, if they can commit to actually reducing the welfare bill and getting people off benefits and into work. Can she make that commitment right now, yes or no?”
The Deputy Prime Minister replied: "Well, if ever we needed a reminder of the party opposite having no shame, it’s their demands for this Bill.
"He demands a programme to help people into work, exactly what this Bill does, after he left one in eight young people out of the economy."
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