Politics

Labour Meltdown Looms as Furious MPs Threaten to Oust Starmer Over Benefits Bill

Published on June 25, 2025

Labour is teetering on the edge of internal chaos, with rebellious MPs threatening to bring down Sir Keir Starmer over controversial plans to slash Britain’s growing benefits bill. Allies of the Prime Minister are scrambling to keep the party in line, warning that any rebellion could spiral into a full-blown political crisis.

Some of the more rebellious backbenchers have been told in no uncertain terms that voting against the bill could trigger a general election or even force Starmer out as leader. One MP revealed they were bluntly warned that the rebellion “could bring the Government down” and potentially end in “a fresh leadership contest”, reported GB News.

Another Labour MP, speaking to The Financial Times, said they’d been told in stark terms that going ahead with next week’s revolt “would cause a fresh leadership contest” and added that “this could be the start of the end for Keir.” The language being used behind closed doors is clearly no-nonsense, and tensions are running high.

But not everyone is backing down. Some rebels appear completely unfazed by the pressure from the Whips Office. One MP openly admitted they’d welcome a shake-up at the top. “I would be happy to see a leadership contest, I think perhaps it’s time for change,” they said, shrugging off the warnings.

Despite the behind-the-scenes drama, Starmer is insisting that the second reading of the welfare bill isn’t being treated as a confidence vote. But that hasn’t stopped speculation that his leadership is on shaky ground, with growing dissent from within his own party threatening to boil over.

The row centres on Labour’s plans to get a grip on spiralling welfare costs – a move seen by many as an attempt to win over more centrist voters. But it’s gone down badly with some Labour MPs, particularly those on the left, who believe the party is abandoning its roots and punishing the most vulnerable.

What’s striking is how quickly loyalty is beginning to crack. Starmer’s team may be trying to present a united front, but the mood among some MPs suggests otherwise. The prospect of another leadership contest, just as Labour was hoping to present itself as a stable alternative to the Tories, is now being whispered in the corridors of Westminster.

Whether the rebellion gains momentum remains to be seen, but the very fact that MPs are talking openly about ousting the leader just days before a key vote shows just how fragile things have become. For now, Starmer’s team are desperately trying to keep things calm. But with tensions this high, all eyes are on what happens next week – and whether this rebellion really could mark the beginning of the end.

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