Political situation in the UK

Starmer backs down on proposals but faces heavy criticism: “Incompetent”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was forced to back down on several parts of his proposed welfare package during a vote on Tuesday after a rebellion within his own party, Bloomberg reports.

Despite the concessions, 49 Labour MPs voted against their own party’s proposals, and even among those who voted in favor, many were critical. According to the newspaper, one MP describes Keir Starmer as “incompetent.”

Among the parts of the proposal that were removed was the withdrawal of support for certain disabled people. According to The Guardian, Starmer's concessions to critics within his own party have created a hole in the state budget equivalent to over 32 billion Swedish kronor.

Analysis: The problems are not over for Starmer – he must pull himself together

That Keir Starmer was forced to abandon parts of his welfare package during yesterday's vote in parliament was a heavy loss for him. Sadly, it is probably just the beginning, several newspapers write in analytical texts.

Sky News' Beth Rigby writes that Starmer tried to show critics in the party who is in charge – but that he ended up being forced to back down himself.

"The Prime Minister has – to use a war metaphor – spilled an enormous amount of blood for very little gain".

It has hardly won him many new friends.

"It only gets harder from now on", write Politico's Annabelle Dickson, Dan Bloom and Esther Webber. They continue:

“After 12 months of serious policy missteps and high-speed U-turns, both Labour MPs and voters are now turning against the prime minister.”

It is not easy to be a political leader in the 2020s, write the BBC’s Chris Mason and Henry Zeffman.

“But Sir Keir Starmer must be aware that he must pull himself together, and fast.”