Keir Starmer is poised to make humiliating concessions on benefits reforms today after failing to quell a massive Labour revolt.
Ministers have been hinting at a climbdown as they face a disastrous defeat in a crunch Commons vote on the flagship legislation.
Despite frantic direct pleas from the PM and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, more MPs have added their names to a fatal amendment overnight. Around 130 have now publicly declared they will oppose the Second Reading of the Bill, easily enough to overturn even Labour's massive majority.
There is speculation that Sir Keir could offer to widen eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (Pip) or weaken curbs on Universal Credit - blowing a hole in hopes the proposals will save the government £5billion.
He has dismissed what has been described as the nuclear option of delaying or abandoning the package altogether.
