Head and shoulders shot of Mahmood speaking at the Despatch Box in the House of CommonsImage source, House of Commons
Image caption,

Shabana Mahmood has backed down on two elements

ByJack FenwickPolitical correspondent
  • Published22 minutes ago

Today's announcement has long been viewed in government as a potential political banana skin.

When the home secretary announced her first version of changes to the settlement system last year, many Labour MPs, including the housing secretary Angela Rayner, voiced their concerns about the plans.

But there was a feeling that Sir Keir Starmer's government was determined to plough on regardless. Shabana Mahmood herself repeatedly expressed how important she believed the reforms were.