ANGELA Rayner today vowed to “press ahead” with slashing benefits, while Labour’s backbench rebellion continued to grow.

The Deputy PM insisted a crunch vote on welfare reforms WILL go ahead next Tuesday, despite nearly 120 MPs warning they will defy Sir Keir Starmer and try to kill the bill.

Standing in for Sir Keir at PMQs, Ms Rayner told the Commons: “We will go ahead on Tuesday.

“We’re pressing ahead with our reforms, and that is because we’re investing a billion pounds into tailored employment support, a right to try to help more people back into work, and ending reassessments for the most severely disabled who will never be able to work.

“We won’t walk away and stand by, and abandon millions of people trapped in the failing system left behind by him and his colleagues.”

While the PM attends the Nato summit in the Hague, Downing Street aides and cabinet ministers have been scrambling to quell the most threatening uprising of Sir Keir’s premiership.

Ministers have been calling rebels in a desperate attempt to convince them to remove their names from an amendment that would destroy the welfare bill.

But their efforts have resulted in just one MP stepping back.
Meanwhile, others who didn’t sign on to the amendment have been privately pledging to join it.

At PMQs Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said the Tories would help Labour pass the reforms if ministers promise not to raise taxes at the next Budget.

Responding to the ultimatum, Ms Rayner blasted: “This is a bit rich. Unbelievable.

“Inflation above 11 per cent, the biggest tax rises by their party. I take no lectures.

“And on this issue, they can’t make their minds up.

“First they said our reforms were taking too long, then they say they were rushed, then their frontbench said our measures were too tough and now they say they need to be tougher.”

The current rebels, who include Labour committee chairs, claim the plans would push 250,000 more people into poverty.

They were emboldened last night by backing from London Mayor Sadiq Khan and more MPs were set to join the revolt.

Sir Keir has said next Tuesday is not a confidence vote — meaning rebels will not be booted out of the party — but has deployed his ministers, including Welfare Secretary Liz Kendall, to twist MPs’ arms.