Keir Starmer infamously dismissed the protests of his MPs concerned about the government’s flagship welfare bill as mere “noises off”. Such criticisms, the prime minister’s telling implied, reflected the inevitable but manageable friction generated by far-reaching reform.

Keir Starmer is facing the largest Labour rebellion of his time as prime minister as he tries to force through controversial welfare cuts. Dozens of his own backbenchers are set to defy him to vote against the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments Bill in the Commons on Tuesday evening.