Sir Keir Starmer has suspended 4 Labour MPs at the moment for “repeated breaches of party discipline”.
Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Rachael Maskell have been suspended from the parliamentary Labour Social gathering and can sit as unbiased MPs.
All 4 voted in opposition to the federal government’s welfare reforms earlier this month, amongst 47 social gathering MPs to insurgent.
However who’re the 4 MPs suspended? And the way crucial have been they of the federal government?
Brian Leishman
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The MP for Alloa and Grangemouth was first elected in final yr’s common election. Whereas the constituency was contested for the primary time that yr, it will have been an SNP seat notionally.
Mr Leishman can also be a member of the Socialist Marketing campaign Group inside Labour and was beforehand elected to Perth and Kinross Council in 2022.
A frequent voter in opposition to the federal government, he has criticised his social gathering for not doing sufficient to avoid wasting Grangemouth oil refinery, and rebelled in opposition to votes on the Winter Gas Allowance and welfare.
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From April: Minister defends refinery closure
In an announcement, he mentioned: “I am a proud Labour member, and I remain committed to the party.”
He added that he needs “to remain a Labour MP and deliver the positive change many voters are craving,” however added he voted in opposition to the federal government on some points to signify his constituents.
“I firmly believe that it is not my duty as an MP to make people poorer, especially those that have suffered because of austerity and its dire consequences,” he mentioned.
“It is the honour of my life to be the MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, and my priority remains representing and fighting for constituents, whether they voted for me or not.”
Chris Hinchliff
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One other 2024 newcomer to Parliament, the MP for North East Hertfordshire is among the youthful politicians at 31 years previous.
He gained the constituency for the primary time because it was established in 1997.
As MP, Mr Hinchliff has supported rebellions on cuts to welfare and the Winter Gas Allowance, and likewise proposed amendments to the federal government’s Planning and Infrastructure Invoice – criticising the federal government’s session with personal finance teams – in April.
To date, the MP hasn’t made a public assertion, however he had beforehand mentioned he did not thoughts shedding the whip over his opposition to the welfare cuts.
Neil Duncan-Jordan
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The MP for Poole was additionally elected within the 2024 election, successful his seat from the Conservatives by simply 18 votes. It was the primary time Labour had gained within the constituency.
Earlier than standing for election, Mr Duncan-Jordan was a regional officer for UNISON, one of many largest commerce unions within the UK.
He is been an outspoken critic of proposed cuts to welfare and incapacity funds, calling the welfare invoice a “dog’s dinner” and final yr main an early day movement to postpone an finish to the Winter Gas Allowance.
In response to shedding the whip, mentioned in an announcement: “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,” he added, “I’ve been part of the Labour and trade union movement for 40 years and remain as committed as ever to its values.
“To my constituents: it is enterprise as common. I stay your hardworking native MP, I’ll proceed to take up your considerations and converse up for Poole.”
Rachael Maskell
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Shortly earlier than 4pm, the MP for York Central turned the fourth MP to be suspended by the federal government for rebelling.
In Parliament since 2015, Ms Maskell led the welfare rise up in opposition to the federal government’s reforms – and voted in opposition to them even after they have been considerably watered down.
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Maskell slams ‘Dickensian’ welfare cuts
“I want to see instituted back in the heart of the party a recognition of the role of backbenchers.”
And talking to Sky’s chief political correspondent Jon Craig after her suspension, she mentioned: “The reason I have been suspended is because I voted in the way I did. I believe I am fighting for people that really matter, the poorest people in society.
“That’s the reason the Labour Social gathering was created – I’ll by no means surrender that struggle.”
