Starmer refuses to rule out tax rises to fund welfare bill U-turn – UK politics live

<p>Kemi Badenoch tells PM the welfare bill is a ‘pointless waste of time’ after climbdown heads off Labour revolt</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/jul/02/welfare-bill-climbdown-will-have-a-cost-at-budget-says-senior-minister">Welfare bill climbdown will have ‘a cost’ at budget, says minister</a></p></li></ul><p>On Wednesday, <strong>Angela Rayner</strong> sought to reassure people who had been “scared” about the proposed benefits changes, reports the PA news agency.</p><p>Speaking to ITV’s Lorraine, the deputy prime minister said:</p><p>Anyone listening to your show today, they know that there will be no changes to their welfare.</p><p>I want to make sure that people are reassured by that, because a lot of people have been scared about what’s going to happen.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/jul/02/welfare-bill-concessions-labour-keir-starmer-rebellion-tax-uk-politics-live-updates">Continue reading...</a>