Watch: Rebel Labour MP slams Starmer’s ‘Dickensian’ welfare cuts in emotional Commons speech

Labour leader Keir Starmer is facing yet another internal rebellion – this time from one of his own MPs who branded the party’s welfare plans “Dickensian.”

Rachel Maskell, the MP for York Central, gave a powerful speech in Parliament, saying she could not stay silent while the government – backed by Labour – pushed thousands into poverty.

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📉 ‘Far from what this Labour Party is for’

Maskell, a long-standing critic of Starmer’s welfare reforms, didn’t hold back during Monday’s debate.

“These Dickensian cuts belong to a different era and a different party,” she told MPs.

She added:

“They are far from what this Labour Party is for. A party to protect the poor—as is my purpose, for I am my brother’s keeper. These are my constituents, my neighbours, my responsibility—and I cannot cross by on the other side.”

Labour MP Rachael Maskell appears close to tears as she 'pleads' with the government to abandon planned welfare cuts

'These Dickensian cuts belong to a different era and a different party', she said pic.twitter.com/MaHj8gVPxU

— ITVPolitics (@ITVNewsPolitics) July 1, 2025

Maskell has tabled a “reasoned amendment” urging MPs to vote against the plans.

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📋 What’s being cut?

The controversial bill includes:

• A reduction to the health element of universal credit
• Tighter eligibility rules for personal independence payments (PIP)

Though the proposals were recently watered down after a rebellion by more than 120 Labour MPs, many still argue the reforms go too far.

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⚠️ ‘A dog’s breakfast’

Another Labour rebel, Debbie Abrahams, wasn’t subtle in her criticism, calling the bill “a dog’s breakfast.”

And Dan Carden, MP for Liverpool Walton, slammed the policy’s roots:

“Its origins came about, as far as I can recall, as a £5 billion Treasury cut. That’s marred the whole thing.”

He added:

“Ministers keep insisting it’s about fairness—but there’s no clear purpose. And now we’re left with a political mess.”

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🗳️ Labour divisions deepen

Dozens of Labour backbenchers are still expected to vote against the bill, despite Starmer’s eleventh-hour concessions.

The Prime Minister had hoped the watered-down plan would end the rebellion—but tensions are clearly far from over.

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