British PM suspends rebellious lawmakers

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has carried out a purge of troublesome backbenchers as he suspended several MPs, reported PA Media/dpa.

It is understood that those who have been suspended have had the whip removed due to repeated infringements when it comes to party discipline.

Rachael Maskell, who spearheaded plans to halt the government’s welfare reforms, has lost the whip, alongside Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman, and Chris Hinchliff.

They voted against the government’s benefits reforms as part of a wider rebellion earlier this month, and all aside from Maskell were first elected at last year’s election.

Maskell said she had been suspended for “standing up for my constituents” over the benefits plans.

The York Central MP said she had a “positive conversation” with the chief whip, adding: “He knows my heart and why I did what I did.

“I explained there are lines I can’t cross because of where I come from in politics with my faith.”

She said she was “not angry” but “upset that we are in this place because I believe we are better than that as a party. I believe that strength comes from the backbenches.”

Duncan-Jordan has said he remains “as committed as ever” to Labour values, but accepted that voting against the welfare plans “could come at a cost”.

In a statement, the MP for Poole said: “Since being elected, I have consistently spoken up for my constituents on a range of issues, including most recently on cuts to disability benefits.

“I understood this could come at a cost, but I couldn’t support making disabled people poorer.

“Although I’ve been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party today, I’ve been part of the Labour and trade union movement for 40 years and remain as committed as ever to its values.”

Committed to the party

Duncan-Jordan raised concerns about the government’s changes to the winter fuel allowance before the U-turn, while Leishman has been a critic of the government’s response to the Grangemouth closure.

Leishman said he is a “proud Labour member” and remains “committed to the party”.

The office of the MP for Alloa and Grangemouth confirmed he had had the whip “temporarily suspended”.

“I wish to remain a Labour MP and deliver the positive change many voters are craving,” Leishman said in a statement.

“I have voted against the government on issues because I want to effectively represent and be the voice for communities across Alloa and Grangemouth.

“I firmly believe that it is not my duty as an MP to make people poorer, especially those who have suffered because of austerity and its dire consequences.”

Hinchliff said: “I remain proud to have been elected as a Labour MP and I hope in time to return to the Labour benches.

“In the meantime, I will continue to fight every day for the needs of my constituents, and nothing will change in how I engage with and represent those I was elected to serve.”

Hinchliff led a rebellion against the ministers’ planning bill over environmental concerns.

A Labour backbencher described the suspensions as “devastating” and said they did not signal a willingness from the government to reset relations with the parliamentary party.

Besides the suspensions, three other MPs have been removed from trade envoy jobs: Rosena Allin-Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammad Yasin.

- Bernama

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