Does the UK Government really know what it’s doing cutting health-related benefits and trying to get more claimants into work instead?

Around 126 Labour MPs think not and now ministers seem finally to be taking them seriously. With a vote in parliament on Tuesday already being described as a test of confidence in Sir Keir Starmer’s government, this is shaping up into a Tory-style party management crisis – only this time with a Labour government which is meant to have a working majority of 165.

Sir Keir’s deputy Angela Rayner insisted the vote would go ahead on Wednesday but the government’s defiant stance did not stop the numbers of rebels from ticking up. Now the government has confirmed talks are taking place about changing the reform package.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ finely balanced budgeting depends on the £5bn she says will be saved by 2030 through the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill. She also wants to prevent daunting projected increases in welfare spending down the line.

Read more Rebecca McQuillan

But deep concerns about the impact of the cuts on sick and disabled people has led the rebels to table an amendment which, if passed, would halt the bill in its tracks.

With days still to go for more MPs to join the insurgency, the government can no longer be sure of winning – hence the dialogue.

But even if they could, ignoring such a huge show of concern would be madness. That backbench disquiet would turn to anger and anger would turn into open mutiny. And all for the sake of a bill that, while leaving some claimants........

© Herald Scotland