On a shambolic day for Labour, the Prime Minister dropped his flagship plan to cut disability benefits just hours after ministers had insisted they were going ahead.

The prime minister has suffered damage to his authority and lost goodwill among some Labour MPs over how efforts to reform welfare have unfolded - and it may be Rachel Reeves picking up the pieces.

Welfare minister Liz Kendall summoned all the resolution in her slender veins. 'This Government,' she squeaked, 'must not and will not duck the big challenges!' Three and a bit hours later: ...