The New Statesman | UK politics and culture “Sack Rachel Reeves” demand Labour MPs over welfare reforms
Jun 26, 2025
Tensions are rising within the Labour Party as over 120 MPs rebel against welfare reforms affecting disability benefits and universal credit. The emotional fallout in communities reveals deep concerns and reputational risks for the party. Discussions also touch on emerging left-wing factions that could threaten Labour's electoral prospects, highlighting dissatisfaction among voters. As leadership challenges loom, the podcast dives into the future direction of the party amidst this political turmoil.
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Labour MPs' Anger at Rachel Reeves
- Labour MPs are extremely angry with Rachel Reeves over welfare reforms and blame her for unpopular policy u-turns.
- Their anger reflects a deep distrust and unwillingness to support further benefit cuts under her lead.
Concessions Won't Fully Heal Rift
- The government signals willingness to make concessions to rebels on welfare reforms but distrust runs deep.
- Even halving the losses to claimants still results in significant pain, challenging backbench compliance.
Broken Relations Underlie Crisis
- Threatening to treat the vote as one of confidence would be a serious mistake given fragile party unity.
- The core failure lies in broken relations between Downing Street and Labour’s parliamentary party.