How No 10 went from bullish to badly damaged as rebels forced further welfare bill concessions

Tumultuous 24 hours capped by last-minute welfare bill concessions could define rest of Starmer’s time in No 10

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Hours before MPs were due to vote on the government’s welfare bill, Angela Rayner conveyed an urgent message to Downing Street.

She had spent the day in intense talks with Labour rebels including Sarah Owen and Florence Eshalomi, and come to the conclusion the concessions offered just days earlier had failed. Dozens of them were still planning to vote against the government, and one of Keir Starmer’s major economic policies hung in the balance.