The British government suffered its largest backbench rebellion since it came to power last night when 67 Labour MPs in the Commons ignored pleas to toe the party line and reduced the government's 178-vote majority to 40 in a vote over planned cuts in disability benefits.
The government survived the vote by 310 to 270, but the revolt easily surpassed the last big reduction in its majority when 47 Labour backbench MPs voted against the government in December 1997 over lone parent benefits. The Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives joined the 67 Labour backbenchers in voting against the government, while 39 Labour MPs abstained.
The rebellion is deeply embarrassing for the Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, who staked his personal authority on the reforms, repeatedly insisting that they must be seen through. The rebels are now expecting concessions from the government if, as expected, an identical amendment, seeking to block the disability cuts outlined in the Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill, is tabled in the House of Lords where the government does not have a majority.
The vote came after the government succeeded in guillotining debate on the rebel amendment - opposing cuts to incapacity benefits and means testing for those with personal or occupational pensions of more than £50 sterling a week - to just four hours. A plea from the Social Security Minister, Mr Alistair Darling, to consider the whole package of reforms, and not just those on disability benefits, was ignored.
Most Labour MPs felt the proposals tested their loyalty to the limit and beyond. Mr Frank Field told the Commons means testing benefits would "penalise" the disabled. The rebel leader, Mr Roger Berry, said although he wanted to avoid voting against the government, "I cannot support a policy which I genuinely feel is logically flawed and, in the eyes of many, morally without justification . . ."
As disability campaigners protested outside the Commons, Mr Darling called on MPs to "judge us in the round and support our approach . . . if you look at the whole package, if you look at everything this government is doing for the disabled, on any view it is fair and it is balanced".
The Conservatives declared the vote "a moral victory for common sense" and condemned the government's proposals as a penalty on those willing to save for retirement or ill health. The Liberal Democrat spokesman, Mr Paul Tyler, predicted the government would have to concede the contentious proposals when the Lords looked at the Bill and sent it back to the Commons.
Prof Ian Bruce, co-chair of the Disability Benefits Consortium, pledged to continue the fight against the cuts but offered an olive branch to the government. "It's still not too late for a listening government to reverse these cuts."