Sir Keir Starmer is facing a rebellion over benefit cuts by more than 100 Labour MPs. The group – more than a quarter of the party’s parliamentary numbers – have signed a letter calling for welfare reforms to be scaled back.

The private letter to Labour’s chief whip is separate from a similar public one last week, in which 42 MPs said the measures were “impossible to support”. Under the Government’s plans, the eligibility criteria for the personal independence payment (Pip) would be tightened, while the sickness-related element of universal credit is also set to be reduced.

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The private letter, reported by The Times, comes ahead of a crunch Commons vote on the proposals expected next month.

The Government has a working majority of 165, meaning that 83 Labour MPs would have to rebel for the Prime Minister to lose.

In last week’s public letter, some 42 Labour MPs warned the plans were “impossible to support”.

They said the proposals, unveiled by the Government in a Green paper in March, had “caused a huge amount of anxiety and concern among disabled people and their families” and called for them to be delayed until at least the autumn.

They said: “Whilst the Government may have correctly diagnosed the problem of a broken benefits system and a lack of job opportunities for those who are able to work, they have come up with the wrong medicine.

“Cuts don’t create jobs, they just cause more hardship.

“Ministers therefore need to delay any decisions until all the assessments have been published into the impact the cuts will have on employment, health and increased demand for health and social care.”

They added: “Without a change in direction, the Green Paper will be impossible to support.”