Mr Starmer must now wait to see if he has done enough to nudge the proposed cuts over their first parliamentary hurdle. As many as 50 Labour MPs may still rebel, which would allow it to squeak through. If his Bill falls, however, grumbling over the direction of the government will grow.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has given way to political pressure and watered down planned welfare reforms to avert defeat by his own party’s lawmakers.