Ministers scramble to avoid Labour rebellion on disability benefit cuts

Exclusive: backbenchers may be allowed to abstain, a major climbdown from previous votes when rebels were suspended from the party

Ministers are scrambling to avoid a damaging rebellion this summer when MPs vote on controversial cuts to disability benefit payments, even offering potential rebels the chance to miss the vote altogether.

The government is due to hold a vote in June and dozens of Labour MPs are worried it will hurt their constituents and could cost them their seats.