The Commons was unusually frantic in the early hours of today as a threatened backbench rebellion saw the Government cut short a debate on welfare reform before its plans to cut disabled benefits could be discussed.

Amid once familiar scenes of disarray, debate on the Government's Welfare Reform and Pensions Bill was ended at 4am. More than 60 Labour MPs had signalled opposition to plans to means test and restrict access to Incapacity Benefit, and as the all-night sitting progressed, the Government faced further criticism of its intended reforms.

Most of the heat on this issue is directed at the Social Security Secretary Alistair Darling, though York MP Hugh Bayley is also under pressure in his role as Junior Social Security Minister. It is possible to feel some sympathy for Mr Bayley as he inherited the measures in this Bill, and he now faces the unenviable task of attempting to make humane sense of what appears to be an unusually harsh proposal.

Two years ago this country turned to New Labour with an astonishing amount of enthusiasm and good will. While there may still be much to admire in Tony Blair's administration, one unfortunate tendency appears to be a willingness to pick on the weaker members of society. During its first year in power, the Government faced a revolt over cutting benefits to single parents - and now an even bigger protest has risen up over incapacity benefit.

The country voted New Labour for many reasons, yet surely one of the main motivations was the wish to see a kinder, more compassionate society after the lean years of Tory rule. Most of those who voted for New Labour did not imagine that they would be lending support to measures that will hurt those who need the most help.

This is not to say that reform is wrong or out of the question. Yet the strength of opposition to Mr Darling's proposals should force the Government to step back and look again at its contentious Bill. Perhaps we can rely on Mr Bayley to apply his usual conscientious methods and come up with something a little kinder.

This latest welfare revolt is a healthy reminder of why governments should not be allowed to get their own way all the time. This Government sits safe on a huge majority and is faced with an enfeebled Opposition, and so is rarely forced to accept that it might indeed be wrong. Perhaps just this once it might like to think again.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.