Starmer Urged to Heed Backbenchers After Welfare Rebellion

A former Labour frontbencher, Vicky Foxcroft, has issued a powerful call for Sir Keir Starmer's government to listen more closely to its own MPs. The plea comes from the heart of a recent crisis, as Foxcroft dramatically resigned from her government whip position in June over controversial welfare reforms that were later abandoned after a significant backbench rebellion.

In a candid interview with GB News presenter Gloria De Piero, Ms. Foxcroft, the MP for Lewisham North, revealed the immense personal and political struggle behind her decision. She expressed "real concern" over the government's now-scrapped proposals to cut benefits for disabled people, particularly changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) that would have made it significantly harder to access support.

"I was just really concerned about that. And at that point, I didn’t feel that I could support it and didn’t feel that I could go out and whip for it and get other MPs to do the same," she stated.

The decision was not made lightly. Ms. Foxcroft spoke of "sleepless nights" and the emotional toll of the situation, which coincided with a difficult personal time following the sudden passing of her father. "It plays on your mind the whole time," she confessed, highlighting the deep-seated anxieties that led to her resignation.

When asked what the government could do differently moving forward, Ms. Foxcroft's message was clear: "I think it’s really important to listen to MPs. MPs are out in their constituencies. They’re meeting with people. When they’re raising concerns, it is coming from what people are worried about." She stressed the need for a "proper engagement" to take place with backbenchers.

The former whip's comments come at a time of growing public and internal unease within the Labour Party. The government's recent U-turn on its £5 billion welfare cuts followed a significant rebellion, which saw 47 Labour MPs defy the whip. This, combined with poor recent polling data, including Sir Keir Starmer's approval rating hitting a low of minus 46 following the May local elections, has fueled a sense of unease about the government's direction.

A recent survey by More in Common, reported by The Sunday Times, found that just one year into their term, seven in ten voters believe the Starmer government is as chaotic as the previous Conservative administration.

Despite these challenges, Ms. Foxcroft remains optimistic that the government can regain public trust. She pointed to a number of legislative initiatives, such as the Renters' Rights Bill, the Employment Rights Bill, and the Football Governance Bill, as signs of positive progress. However, she emphasized that for the public to truly believe in the government, they need to "feel the difference, actually, genuinely in their lives."

This latest intervention from a respected backbencher underscores the internal pressures facing Sir Keir Starmer as he seeks to navigate a challenging political landscape and maintain party unity amid falling approval ratings and a resurgent Reform UK. The call to listen and engage with MPs from the grassroots will likely resonate widely, as the government grapples with its identity and policy direction in the years ahead.