Sign in Subscribe
Welfare reform

Labour Revolt: Starmer Suffers Largest Backbench Rebellion in Premiership

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Keir Starmer has faced one of the largest revolts of his premiership as dozens of his own MPs voted against his planned welfare reforms in Parliament. The prime minister was forced to make two humiliating U-turns on the legislation to avoid defeat on one of his flagship policies. This rebellion is the largest backbench revolt Sir Keir has suffered so far, surpassing the previous record holder during the passage of the planning and infrastructure bill, where 16 MPs rebelled.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of MPs voting against the welfare reforms, 49, is similar to the 47 who rebelled against Tony Blair's government in his first year in power over a benefit for lone parents.
  • This rebellion is more significant than the one in Tony Blair's first year, according to Professor Philip Cowley from Queen Mary University of London.
  • The rebellion is smaller than the largest backbench revolt in the UK since the war, which occurred in 1947 over national service, where 72 MPs voted against the government.
  • The largest rebellion in the first year of any government since the war is held by 91 MPs, who voted against the civil list in 1975.
  • The largest backbench rebellion of any governing party since the Corn Laws is the 139 MPs who voted against the Iraq war in 2003.
  • This is the largest rebellion of Sir Keir's premiership, surpassing the 16 MPs who rebelled during the passage of the planning and infrastructure bill.
  • The Labour Party has stripped several of its MPs of the party whip, including Jeremy Corbyn's shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, over the two-child benefit cap.

Statistics:

  • 49 MPs voted against the welfare reforms, surpassing the 47 who rebelled against Tony Blair's government in his first year.
  • 91 MPs hosted the record for the largest rebellion in the first year of any government since the war, over the civil list in 1975.
  • 139 MPs voted against the Iraq war in 2003, the largest backbench rebellion of any governing party since the Corn Laws.
  • 16 MPs rebelled during the passage of the planning and infrastructure bill, the previous record holder.

Sources:

  • The Independent: "Keir Starmer suffers largest backbench rebellion as dozens of his own MPs vote against welfare reforms"
  • Queen Mary University of London's Professor Philip Cowley

Read more