U.K. Prime Minister Faces Major Backlash Over Welfare Cuts Bill

Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the U.K. confronted unprecedented dissent in Parliament on July 1, 2025, as many members of his Labour Party opposed significant welfare cuts.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer was met with fierce resistance in Parliament on July 1, 2025, as a sizable faction of his Labour Party lawmakers voted against proposed changes to the social welfare system. Although the bill to cut rising welfare costs advanced with a 335 to 260 vote, Starmer's leadership was visibly weakened following the internal strife over the legislation. The proposed modifications intend to raise eligibility limits for disability payments, impacting hundreds of thousands of individuals. In a bid to quell dissent, the government altered the provisions so they would only affect new claimants, resulting in anticipated savings dwindling from £4.8 billion to £2 billion annually. This pushback, with over 120 Labour MPs signaling potential opposition to the cuts, has left Starmer grappling with a divided party and increased scrutiny regarding his governance.

Furthermore, his party's ability to unify around this vital issue strikes a stark contrast to the relative neglect faced by similar proposed cuts in the United States, hinting at deeper political divides. With remaining stages of this legislation approaching in the House of Commons, Starmer's ability to consolidate his party's support remains imperative for his administration's success moving forward.