Sir Keir Starmer admitted he has “asked a lot” of businesses in an address to British bosses as he faced a rebellion from his own MPs over his flagship welfare reforms.
He told the British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference in London that firms were responsible for “creating the jobs, the wealth, the tax receipts that means that we have the opportunity to change our country for the better”.
The Prime Minister said: “I fully acknowledge, and I do acknowledge here, that this year, as we’ve had to fix the foundations of our country, deal with the unprecedented mess that we inherited, we have asked a lot of you.
“I understand that and I want to acknowledge that.”
It comes as ministers discuss the prospect of further concessions to win over a growing list of Labour MPs poised to rebel against planned welfare reforms ahead of a crunch vote next week.
