No 10 climbs down over welfare bill in move to win over Labour rebels

Compromises include exempting those currently receiving disability benefits and increasing health element of universal credit in line with inflation

Downing Street has announced major changes to its welfare bill in an attempt to win the support of more than 120 Labour rebels who had threatened to vote against it next week and hand Keir Starmer a damaging first defeat as prime minister.

Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, wrote to Labour MPs on Thursday night to lay out the concessions, which were thrashed out over 24 hours of negotiations between senior rebels and government officials.