Labour party opponents of the UK government’s £5 billion ($6.8 billion) cut to disability benefits have secured enough support to block the plan, setting up a high-stakes test of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s leadership less than a year into office.

Sir Keir Starmer has set up a confrontation with Labour rebels over welfare reforms, saying he will “lead from the front” in fighting for the changes. The Prime Minister confirmed a Commons vote on the plans to squeeze sickness and incapacity benefits will go ahead on Tuesday despite 120 Labour MPs publicly backing a move to block the legislation.

The prime minister has been warned that using Tory votes to pass his welfare reforms against a rebellion of more than 120 Labour MPs would be ‘shameful’