The Labour leader has been warned that the government’s majority will be “gone by Easter” amid the “rebellion” over the two-child benefit cut.
The Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Chris Philp said during Business questions in the Commons that this comes as there is a “significant back bench rebellion” happening in Labour.
On Tuesday the government defeated an amendment led by the SNP to put an end to the two-child benefit cap.
After Labours easy win seven Labour MPs who defied backing Sir Keir Starmer had the whip suspended.
Starmer suspended the whip from Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain, former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, ex-business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and Zarah Sultana for six months.
Philp said, “The Government has sent mixed messages about plans to scrap or not the very reasonable two child cap on welfare payments, but then on Tuesday the Government whipped their MPs to vote against that.
“There was a significant backbench rebellion less than three weeks after the election, not even not even Theresa May managed a rebellion within three weeks of an election.
“So it’s a bit of a first and at this rate, the Government’s majority will be gone by about Easter of next year.
Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell said she will not “be taking” advice from Philp as the Conservative Party left the “country in a worse state than even our worst fears.”
Powell said, “As we end our third week in Government though, it is clearer than ever before that the Conservatives failed in their responsibility and left the country in a worse state than even our worst fears.”
Liberal Democrat spokesperson Wera Hobhouse said, “As child poverty is one of the main drivers of mental illness, it is no surprise that young people’s mental health services are now at breaking point.
“Liberal Democrats want to ensure that when budgets are tight, support for children and young people’s mental health is not pushed aside.”
Powell responded, “It’s absolutely right that those elected on a manifesto to bring that King’s Speech in should vote for it overwhelmingly and they did in Parliament this week, and I’m incredibly proud of the huge numbers of people who supported that King’s Speech programme.
“On child poverty, these issues have been raised a number of times in recent weeks. This Labour Government – as any Labour government – is absolutely committed to tackling child poverty, and not just the symptoms of child poverty, but the root causes of child poverty.”
