Anas Sarwar has refused to back the twelve Scottish Labour MPs who are opposed to the UK Government鈥檚 welfare cuts. The Scottish Labour leader said 鈥渃onversations鈥 are ongoing but insisted the 鈥減rinciple鈥 of social security reform had to be supported. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure over a welfare bill that would cut around 拢5bn from disability and sickness benefits. But the bill could be killed after over 100 Labour MPs, including twelve from Scotland, backed an amendment that would torpedo the whole package. Central to the plan is tightening the eligibility for Personal Independence Payment, which is devolved to Holyrood. But other benefit cuts are UK-wide and the changes are predicted to plunge 50,0000 children into poverty. In a Holyrood Sources podcast, Sarwar said of the bill: 鈥淚 support the principle of reform.鈥 鈥淲e do have to look at the structural challenges that exist in our welfare system.鈥 He also said there are 鈥渕any positives鈥 in the bill, such as 拢1bn for back to work scheme. Asked if he agreed with the rebels, he said: 鈥淐onversations are ongoing, as you would expect. People are legitimately raising their concerns, having those conversations.鈥 He added: 鈥淲e have to support the principle of reform. What those reforms look like have to be balanced and have to be fair.鈥 His comments are in contrast to London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who have criticised the bill. The Scottish Labour MP sceptics are Richard Baker, Scott Arthur, Euan Stainbank, Brian Leishman, Lilian Jones, Tracy Gilbert and Elaine Stewart. Kirsteen Sullivan, Patricia Ferguson, Martin Rhodes, Maureen Burke and Irene Campbell are also opposed. A key element of the package is freezing the rate of the health element of Universal Credit and Employment and Support Allowance payments until 2030. In a briefing to parliamentarians, Trussell estimated that there are nearly 300,000 people receiving these payments in Scotland: “All would stand to be affected by the freeze which by 2029/30 amounts to [a] real terms cut of 拢500 per year.鈥 To sign up to the Daily R ecord Politics newsletter, click here