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Downing Street’s plans to see off a major Labour welfare rebellion were in chaos on Monday night, amid continued brinkmanship between MPs and the government over the scale of the concessions.

There was significant division between government departments over how to respond to rebels’ demands – with seemingly little idea how to quell continuing anger ahead of the knife-edge vote on Tuesday.

The select committee chairs Meg Hillier, Debbie Abrahams, Sarah Owen and Helen Hayes were among MPs in the House of Commons chamber who were publicly expressing doubts that the concessions agreed last week go far enough.

One senior MP organising the Labour rebellion said a statement from Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, on the promised compromises was a “disaster and raised more questions than it answered”.

Other MPs who had previously backed an amendment by Hillier said they would now back the bill at its second reading or abstain, but would vote against it after that if their questions still were not answered.

A new reasoned amendment designed to bring down the bill is thought to be backed by about 35 Labour rebels, though organisers suggested more planned to add their names. Including MPs from other parties, the amendment has 62 backers.