BREAKING: Keir Starmer in huge DWP benefit cuts climbdown as he offers deal to rebels

Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to avoid losing their Personal Independence Payments after a major climbdown from No10 on their welfare cuts.

Keir Starmer offered significant concessions to rebel MPs to swerve a humiliating Commons defeat next week.

Around 370,000 current claimants were expected to be impacted by PIP changes, with an average loss of £4,500 per year. But it emerged this evening that the changes to PIP and the health element of Universal Credit are now expected to apply only to new claimants. It means those currently claiming will avoid losing thousands of pounds in benefits.

There is also expected to be a promise offered to rebels to undertake further consultations on the most controversial measures of the welfare reforms. Support to get more people into work is also expected to be accelerated.

It comes after the number of people signing an amendment to block the plans, which includes tightening the eligibility of a key disability benefit, rose once again to 126. It is more than enough to wipe out Mr Starmer's Commons majority

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