By Rachel Amery
Sir Keir Starmer is set to face his biggest rebellion since taking office as several Scottish MPs look set to try and block his proposed disability cuts. Around 50 MPs are expected to reject the Prime Minister鈥檚 welfare reform Bill, which could see 150,000 people pushed into poverty within five years. Initially the UK government had wanted to cut the eligibility for personal independence payments to save the Treasury 拢5 billion a year by 2030. This benefit is devolved in Scotland as the adult disability benefit. But any cuts at UK-level would affect how much money the Scottish Government receives from the Treasury to pay for this. However, more than 120 MPs signed what is known as a reasoned amendment to stop the Bill progressing through parliament. The Steamie newsletter brings unrivalled political analysis – subscribe here The Prime Minister was forced to U-turn on the initial proposals and has now conceded the cuts will only apply to new claimants from November 2026. Despite several backbenchers being placated by this climbdown, a second amendment to reject the Bill has been put forward by Rachael Maskell MP. Less than half of the original rebels have signed amendment. So far 39 Labour backbenchers are supporting Ms Maskell鈥檚 amendment, including Alloa and Grangemouth MP Brian Leishman and Glasgow North East MP Maureen Burke. So far all the other Scottish Labour MPs who had opposed the original Bill have not signed the new amendment, including Patricia Ferguson, Tracy Gilbert, Dr Scott Arthur, Kirsteen Sullivan, Richard Baker, Euan Stainbank, Lillian Jones, Elaine Stewart, Martin Rhodes and Irene Campbell. Ms Maskell said there were 鈥渓oads more鈥 who had not signed her amendment, but were planning to vote against the government. A further 24 MPs from other political parties have backed Ms Maskell鈥檚 amendment, including all nine SNP MPs. Others from the SDLP, Alliance Party, Greens, Plaid Cymru and a number of independents are also supporting the amendment. The Lib Dems have proposed their own reasoned amendment to try and block the government鈥檚 Bill from passing. So far all the party鈥檚 MPs have signed this, except Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael.