Keir Starmer dismisses Labour welfare cuts rebellion as ‘noises off’

PM insists party remains ‘pretty united’ despite more than 120 of his MPs signalling they could vote down bill

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Keir Starmer has shrugged off mounting Labour unrest over his flagship welfare cuts, dismissing the backlash as “noises off” and insisting his party remains “pretty united” behind the need for change.

The prime minister is facing the biggest revolt of his premiership as more than 120 MPs signalled in an amendment they could vote against the welfare bill on Tuesday in a rebellion led by select committee chairs and previously loyalist Labour MPs.