Labour MP Diane Abbott (Image: Getty)
Diane Abbott warned Sir Keir Starmer that abandoning his welfare reforms is the "only way". The veteran left-winger was reacting after the Government made a series of concessions in a bid to quell a Labour rebellion over the Bill, which is aimed at slashing the benefits bill.
The PM was under intense pressure after 126 Labour backbenchers signed an amendment that would torpedo the legislation at a crunch vote next Tuesday. The Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington wrote on X: "Phoney ‘concessions’ will not fundamentally improve disability benefit cuts Bill. Dropping it is the only way."
Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT
DON'T MISS
Powered by
GB News' Camilla Tominey questions if Keir Starmer should resign in tense exchange
13 Comments
Weakened Keir Starmer now facing big Labour MP rebellion over family farm tax
459 Comments
Humiliation for Keir Starmer as mass Labour revolt erupts with 100 MPs furious
48 Comments
Sadiq Khan lashes out against Keir Starmer's benefit cuts as Labour civil war explodes
60 Comments
Keir Starmer could face bruising no-confidence vote after monumental Labour rebellion
61 Comments
'Labour are destroying jobs!' Keir Starmer torn apart on GB News with brutal statement
24 Comments
Keir Starmer caves into Labour welfare rebels with '￡3bn' splurge to avoid defeat
444 Comments
Labour descends into bitter civil war as Starmer braces for huge rebellion on benefit cuts
88 Comments
Labour MPs 'smell blood' and will demand more from 'weak' Keir Starmer
22 Comments
Major warning Rachel Reeves is set to hike taxes after Keir Starmer U-turns
25 Comments
Crisis for Keir Starmer as even his friends say it's 'start of the end'
437 Comments
Keir Starmer out! PM on edge as rebel Labour MPs demand 'regime change'
439 Comments
Council tax rules are changing: Expert explains how it could affect the amount you pay
4 Comments
‘Keir Starmer will be gone in a year' - and guess who's lining up to replace him
589 Comments
Keir Starmer dealt another blow just hours before crunch vote
67 Comments
Keir Starmer facing fresh rebellion over welfare cuts ahead of crunch vote
186 Comments
DWP PIP reforms new update as minister says 'we are taking action'
2 Comments
Full list of PIP and Universal Credit concessions explained
6 Comments
Keir Starmer torn apart over 'humiliating U-turn' on welfare cuts
177 Comments
Keir Starmer breaks his silence over benefit cuts U-turn after massive Labour rebellion
48 Comments
GB News' Camilla Tominey questions if Keir Starmer should resign in tense exchange
13 Comments
Weakened Keir Starmer now facing big Labour MP rebellion over family farm tax
459 Comments
Humiliation for Keir Starmer as mass Labour revolt erupts with 100 MPs furious
48 Comments
Sadiq Khan lashes out against Keir Starmer's benefit cuts as Labour civil war explodes
60 Comments
Keir Starmer could face bruising no-confidence vote after monumental Labour rebellion
61 Comments
'Labour are destroying jobs!' Keir Starmer torn apart on GB News with brutal statement
24 Comments
Keir Starmer caves into Labour welfare rebels with '￡3bn' splurge to avoid defeat
444 Comments
Labour descends into bitter civil war as Starmer braces for huge rebellion on benefit cuts
88 Comments
Labour MPs 'smell blood' and will demand more from 'weak' Keir Starmer
22 Comments
Major warning Rachel Reeves is set to hike taxes after Keir Starmer U-turns
25 Comments
Crisis for Keir Starmer as even his friends say it's 'start of the end'
437 Comments
Keir Starmer out! PM on edge as rebel Labour MPs demand 'regime change'
439 Comments
Council tax rules are changing: Expert explains how it could affect the amount you pay
4 Comments
‘Keir Starmer will be gone in a year' - and guess who's lining up to replace him
589 Comments
Keir Starmer dealt another blow just hours before crunch vote
67 Comments
Keir Starmer facing fresh rebellion over welfare cuts ahead of crunch vote
186 Comments
DWP PIP reforms new update as minister says 'we are taking action'
2 Comments
Full list of PIP and Universal Credit concessions explained
6 Comments
Keir Starmer torn apart over 'humiliating U-turn' on welfare cuts
177 Comments
Keir Starmer breaks his silence over benefit cuts U-turn after massive Labour rebellion
48 Comments
GB News' Camilla Tominey questions if Keir Starmer should resign in tense exchange
13 Comments
Weakened Keir Starmer now facing big Labour MP rebellion over family farm tax
459 Comments
Humiliation for Keir Starmer as mass Labour revolt erupts with 100 MPs furious
48 Comments
Sadiq Khan lashes out against Keir Starmer's benefit cuts as Labour civil war explodes
60 Comments
Keir Starmer could face bruising no-confidence vote after monumental Labour rebellion
61 Comments
'Labour are destroying jobs!' Keir Starmer torn apart on GB News with brutal statement
24 Comments
Keir Starmer caves into Labour welfare rebels with '￡3bn' splurge to avoid defeat
444 Comments
Phoney ‘concessions’ will not fundamentally improve disability benefit cuts bill. Dropping it is the only way. https://t.co/7UcxaktV0h
— Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) June 26, 2025
Don't miss... Keir Starmer torn apart for 'humiliating U-turn' after huge Labour rebellion [LATEST]
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced the climbdown in a letter last night.
She said people who currently receive the personal independence payment (Pip) will continue to do so and that adjustments to universal credit would also see incomes protected.
Powered By
00:00/00:31
10 Sec
128.5K
12
GB News' Eamonn Holmes speaks about wealth tax
Next
Stay
Other left-wing Labour MPs also took to X to warn that the concessions do not go far enough and that they would vote down the Bill.
Leeds East MP Richard Burgon said: "These changes may make a very bad Bill less awful.
"But the vast majority of cuts remain and it still forces hundreds of thousands into poverty. Nowhere near good enough.
"I'll vote against the Bill. The Government shouldn't be balancing the books on the backs of disabled people."
Clive Lewis, who represents Norwich South, said: "Every MP will have to weigh up the deal for themselves.
"Alas, this smacks of a face-saving exercise more than it does doing right by my sick & disabled constituents.
"No impact assessment. No co-production with disabled groups. No deal. I’ll still be voting against."
Sir Keir Starmer faced the prospect of a Labour rebellion over the Bill (Image: Getty)
Trending
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome said the concessions "aren't enough and they should worry us all".
She added: "If you become disabled tomorrow, you risk not having the support you need.
"We would be condemning future generations of disabled people to greater poverty. I will be voting against the Bill."
The Government's original package restricted eligibility for Pip and limited the sickness-related element of universal credit.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
GB News' Camilla Tominey questions if Keir Starmer should resign in tense exchange
13 Comments
Weakened Keir Starmer now facing big Labour MP rebellion over family farm tax
459 Comments
Humiliation for Keir Starmer as mass Labour revolt erupts with 100 MPs furious
48 Comments
Sadiq Khan lashes out against Keir Starmer's benefit cuts as Labour civil war explodes
60 Comments
Keir Starmer could face bruising no-confidence vote after monumental Labour rebellion
61 Comments
'Labour are destroying jobs!' Keir Starmer torn apart on GB News with brutal statement
24 Comments
Keir Starmer caves into Labour welfare rebels with '￡3bn' splurge to avoid defeat
444 Comments
Labour descends into bitter civil war as Starmer braces for huge rebellion on benefit cuts
88 Comments
Labour MPs 'smell blood' and will demand more from 'weak' Keir Starmer
22 Comments
Major warning Rachel Reeves is set to hike taxes after Keir Starmer U-turns
25 Comments
Crisis for Keir Starmer as even his friends say it's 'start of the end'
437 Comments
Keir Starmer out! PM on edge as rebel Labour MPs demand 'regime change'
439 Comments
Council tax rules are changing: Expert explains how it could affect the amount you pay
4 Comments
‘Keir Starmer will be gone in a year' - and guess who's lining up to replace him
589 Comments
Keir Starmer dealt another blow just hours before crunch vote
67 Comments
Keir Starmer facing fresh rebellion over welfare cuts ahead of crunch vote
186 Comments
DWP PIP reforms new update as minister says 'we are taking action'
2 Comments
Full list of PIP and Universal Credit concessions explained
6 Comments
Keir Starmer torn apart over 'humiliating U-turn' on welfare cuts
177 Comments
Keir Starmer breaks his silence over benefit cuts U-turn after massive Labour rebellion
48 Comments
GB News' Camilla Tominey questions if Keir Starmer should resign in tense exchange
13 Comments
Weakened Keir Starmer now facing big Labour MP rebellion over family farm tax
459 Comments
Humiliation for Keir Starmer as mass Labour revolt erupts with 100 MPs furious
48 Comments
Sadiq Khan lashes out against Keir Starmer's benefit cuts as Labour civil war explodes
60 Comments
Keir Starmer could face bruising no-confidence vote after monumental Labour rebellion
61 Comments
'Labour are destroying jobs!' Keir Starmer torn apart on GB News with brutal statement
24 Comments
Keir Starmer caves into Labour welfare rebels with '￡3bn' splurge to avoid defeat
444 Comments
Labour descends into bitter civil war as Starmer braces for huge rebellion on benefit cuts
88 Comments
Labour MPs 'smell blood' and will demand more from 'weak' Keir Starmer
22 Comments
Major warning Rachel Reeves is set to hike taxes after Keir Starmer U-turns
25 Comments
Crisis for Keir Starmer as even his friends say it's 'start of the end'
437 Comments
Keir Starmer out! PM on edge as rebel Labour MPs demand 'regime change'
439 Comments
Council tax rules are changing: Expert explains how it could affect the amount you pay
4 Comments
‘Keir Starmer will be gone in a year' - and guess who's lining up to replace him
589 Comments
Keir Starmer dealt another blow just hours before crunch vote
67 Comments
Keir Starmer facing fresh rebellion over welfare cuts ahead of crunch vote
186 Comments
DWP PIP reforms new update as minister says 'we are taking action'
2 Comments
Full list of PIP and Universal Credit concessions explained
6 Comments
Keir Starmer torn apart over 'humiliating U-turn' on welfare cuts
177 Comments
Keir Starmer breaks his silence over benefit cuts U-turn after massive Labour rebellion
48 Comments
GB News' Camilla Tominey questions if Keir Starmer should resign in tense exchange
13 Comments
Weakened Keir Starmer now facing big Labour MP rebellion over family farm tax
459 Comments
Humiliation for Keir Starmer as mass Labour revolt erupts with 100 MPs furious
48 Comments
Sadiq Khan lashes out against Keir Starmer's benefit cuts as Labour civil war explodes
60 Comments
Keir Starmer could face bruising no-confidence vote after monumental Labour rebellion
61 Comments
'Labour are destroying jobs!' Keir Starmer torn apart on GB News with brutal statement
24 Comments
Keir Starmer caves into Labour welfare rebels with '￡3bn' splurge to avoid defeat
444 Comments
A spokesperson for Number 10 said: "We have listened to MPs who support the principle of reform but are worried about the pace of change for those already supported by the system.
"This package will preserve the social security system for those who need it by putting it on a sustainable footing, provide dignity for those unable to work, supports those who can and reduce anxiety for those currently in the system.
"Our reforms are underpinned by Labour values and our determination to deliver the change the country voted for last year."