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Sir Keir Starmer came under fire over benefit cuts as he faced a grilling from MPs today. The Prime Minister was challenged by Labour MP Debbie Abrahams as he took questions from a cross-party group of MPs on the Liaison Committee.

Ms Abrahams, who chairs the Work and Pensions Committee, said the Government’s welfare Bill was “so far removed from Labour values” and that she “felt ashamed”. Sir Keir faced a major backbench rebellion earlier this month over the reforms, which were heavily watered down to avoid a Commons defeat. 

Ms Abrahams asked the Prime Minister what he would like to say to the disabled people who experienced “fear and anxiety” before the U-turn.

He said: “Well, it’s very important that they feel secure and supported, and that is at the heart of what we are doing in the changes we are making to welfare and related areas.”

Ms Abrahams added: “This was poor legislation. It was designed to save money for the Treasury by cutting support to sick and disabled people.

“It was so far removed from Labour values of fairness and social justice, let alone compassion and common decency.

“I have to say I felt ashamed.”

Sir Keir then said: “I think this is a really important Labour value. I think the fact that nearly one million young people are out of work, not earning or learning, is a huge challenge to our country and none of us should be accepting of a system that operates like that. It is broken, it needs to be mended.”

After a year in office, the PM was asked what he wanted the UK to look like at the end of his first term in No 10.

He said: “I want people to feel better off and there has to be a central focus on living standards.

“I want them to feel – as they will – that the health service is working much better, is there for them and their families in a way that it hasn’t been for many years.

“And I want them to feel safe and secure, both in their immediate neighbourhood and as a country, both our borders and national security and defence.

“So, they’re the three things that I’m focused on more than anything else.”

The Liaison Committee, a panel made up of senior MPs who chair the various Commons select committees, was focusing on measures to tackle poverty.

The session came after Sir Keir suspended four Labour MPs who were involved in the revolt over benefit changes in a bid to assert his authority over his party.