Douglas Alexander compared the current Labour rebellion to the first major rebellion Tony Blair faced in office.

A minister has downplayed the growing Labour rebellion over the government’s welfare cuts by comparing it to the backlash Tony Blair faced back in 1997.

More than 120 Labour MPs have backed an amendment to block Keir Starmer’s reforms to reduce cut the benefits bill by £5 billion.

Downing Street is now rushing to conjure up a series of concessions to win back the backbench rebels before the Commons votes on the amendment next Tuesday.

Speaking to Sky News on Thursday, trade policy minister Douglas Alexander appeared to dismiss claims that this would undermine the government’s authority.

He said: “I was part of Tony Blair’s government and Gordon Brown’s government. I remember what was a very large rebellion very early after the 1997 landslide over the issue of........

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