Despite starting out with a parliamentary majority of 174, it has not been plain sailing for the Starmer-led UK Labour government, with backbench MPs becoming increasingly emboldened in recent weeks.

The first major crack appeared in May with the government finally giving in to pressure and reversing its plans to axe winter fuel payments for pensioners in England and Wales. Instead, those with an annual income of £35,000 or less will be eligible for up to £300. It is a U-turn that will cost £1.25bn.

The other major U-turn evolved over recent days and related to government plans to change personal independent payments for those with a health condition or disability. It was to be a central plank of government plans for welfare reform, which were to deliver estimated savings of around £5bn per year by 2030.

In the end, big concessions had to be made to avoid a possible defeat in the House of Commons on Tuesday. Any changes to the payments will be delayed until a review is undertaken. With various savings not realised, many believe UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves will be left with little option but to raise taxes at her autumn budget.

Cruel

The arguments made in recent weeks by Labour MPs opposed to an end to the winter fuel allowance and welfare reform were that the new policy positions were cruel and morally wrong.

Yet the exact same could be said for the change to agricultural property relief (APR) from inheritance tax (IHT) planned for April 2026.

It will impact families hit with a sudden death or currently in a bad situation where it is impossible to pass on the family farm and make use of the seven-year rule for gifts.

There has been some suggestion that a group of rural Labour MPs are alive to the real impact of the IHT change and determined to see the potential new APR threshold of £1m increased to £10m.

That would work for NI farming, but the key issue will be whether there are enough Labour MPs to bring forward a policy change.