Despite the opposition of 65 of its own backbenchers the government pushed its controversial proposals on welfare reform through the Commons with a majority of 40 votes.

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In the end 270 MPs voted against the government's reforms, while 310 backed the changes.

The vote was closer than expected, with up to 40 Labour MPs abstaining or not voting.

The Welfare Reform Bill now moves on to the Lords, where opponents of the proposals believe the government could be defeated.

'Focus resources'

The clear message from the social security secretary and Downing Street is that there will be no backing down on the reforms, despite the larger than expected rebellion.

Mr Darling said the changes were right in principle and in practice.

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Incapacity benefit did not work and resources had to be focused on those who really needed help, he added.

The stance is a disappointment to opponents of the plans to limit and means-test incapacity benefit, who had hoped the scale of the rebellion would prompt the government to reconsider.

They fear that as many as 170,000 people could be made worse of by the bill.

Disabled Labour peer Lord Ashley is now preparing to continue the fight in the Lords and predicting serious trouble for the government.

If it is defeated on the issue in the Upper House it will come under renewed pressure to think again before the Welfare Reform Bill returns to the Commons.