First Minister John Swinney has accused the UK government of taking an "absolutely appalling" approach to welfare reform. MPs have backed changes to the social security system, but only after Labour ministers made major concessions to rebels that removed the bulk of the proposals for reforming disability benefits.

Despite the setback, which saw changes to the personal independence payment (Pip) stripped out of his welfare legislation, Sir Keir said on Thursday his Government was “pressing on with welfare reform”. Answering questions at the launch of Labour’s NHS plan, he said: “It is important we reform the system. Welfare isn’t working.”

By Andrew MacAskill, Elizabeth Piper and Alistair Smout LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Keir Starmer won a vote on his welfare plans on Tuesday but it came with a significant political cost as he suffered the biggest parliamentary rebellion of his premiership and backed down on key elements of the package to secure the bill's passage.