Prime Minister Keir Starmer has made concessions to dissenting lawmakers from his Labour Party on planned welfare cuts, two lawmakers said on Thursday, as the British leader tries to avoid a damaging parliamentary rebellion at a vote next week.

Other concessions offered by the government include allowing existing claimants to keep the health element of Universal Credit. Sky News understands that some senior rebels are willing to accept the concessions - with one saying that "the concessions will be positively received, and I expect to vote with the government now".

Students and staff at a Gloucestershire college have questioned the Minister of State for Social Security and Disability about the government's proposed welfare reforms. The bill has come under scrutiny because it will make it harder for people to access Personal Independence Payments (Pip).