Starmer says he lost grip on Labour welfare revolt due to focus on foreign affairs

Prime minister says he would have liked to get to a better position with colleagues sooner than we did'

Keir Starmer has said he did not get a grip on the Labour rebellion over disability benefits earlier because he was focused on foreign affairs.

The prime minister acknowledged he had not got it right, and said he would have wanted to make the concessions earlier. I'd have liked to get to a better position with colleagues sooner than we did," Starmer said in an interview with the Sunday Times. I'm putting this as context rather than an excuse.