Latest news with #party discipline
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Labour minister Jess Phillips says rebel MPs right to be punished for ‘slagging off own government'
A government minister has told Labour MPs punished for voting against welfare reforms that they have only themselves to blame in the escalating rebels row. Keir Starmer suspended Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff on Wednesday after the four rebels voted against the government's flagship benefits bill earlier this month. Responding to controversy over the prime minister's decision, home office minister Jess Phillips said on Thursday: 'I disagree often with directions that are going on and I spend time working with colleagues on the back and front benches ensuring that we discuss these things. 'Constantly taking to the airwaves and slagging off your own government – I have to say: what did you think was going to happen?' There had to be a level of party discipline for the government to function, Ms Phillips, who is the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Government minister Jess Phillips has told Labour MPs punished for voting against welfare reforms that they have only themselves to blame in the escalating rebels row (House of Commons) The four MPs all voted against the government over the welfare reform legislation, but party sources said the decision to suspend the whip was taken as a result of persistent breaches of discipline rather than a single rebellion. Speaking to Sky News, Ms Phillips said: 'We were elected as a team under a banner and under a manifesto, and we have to seek to work together, and if you are acting in a manner that is to undermine the ability of the government to deliver those things, I don't know what you expect.' Referring to a description of the rebels by an unnamed source in The Times, she told Sky News: 'I didn't call it persistent knob-headery, but that's the way that it's been termed by some.' Ms Maskell, who spearheaded plans to halt the government's welfare reforms, hit out at Sir Keir's attempt to assert his authority over the party, saying he was wrong to carry out a purge of persistent rebels. Labour MP Rachael Maskell spearheaded plans to halt the government's welfare reforms (PA Archive) The York Central MP said: 'On this occasion, I don't think he's got it right.' Speaking to the BBC, she added: 'I really hope from this process there will be reflection over the summer, but also learning. There needs to be a better reach-out to backbenchers to ensure that we are the safeguards of our government.' Meanwhile, Sir Keir faced a fresh challenge to his authority when senior left-winger Diane Abbott said she had no regrets about comments on racism that led to her being suspended from Labour for a year. Diane Abbott has said she has no regrets about comments on racism that led to her being suspended from Labour for a year (PA Archive) The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP was disciplined for saying in 2023 that people of colour experienced racism 'all their lives' and in a different way to Jewish people, Irish people and Travellers. Despite withdrawing the remarks at the time, she was suspended from the Labour party after Sir Keir said her comments were antisemitic. In a new intervention, Ms Abbott, who was subsequently readmitted to Labour, said she does not regret her remarks and stands by her argument. She told the BBC: 'Clearly, there must be a difference between racism which is about colour and other types of racism because you can see a Traveller or a Jewish person walking down the street, you don't know.'
France 24
16-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
UK's Starmer suspends several Labour rebels
Starmer was forced to backtrack on plans to slash disability and sickness benefits earlier this month after dozens of his own MPs threatened to vote against the proposals. MPs Brian Leishman, Neil Duncan-Jordan, and Rachael Maskell said they had been suspended while the Times newspaper reported that Chris Hinchliff had suffered the same fate. All four voted against the welfare reforms on July 1 after Starmer made his authority-sapping climbdown to avoid a humiliating defeat in parliament. Leishman's office confirmed to AFP that the Scottish MP had been temporarily suspended from the party. Duncan-Jordan, the representative for Poole in southern England, said he understood that voting against the government "could come at a cost, but I couldn't support making disabled people poorer". Starmer has endured a difficult first year in power and has made several damaging U-turns in recent weeks. Political scientist Steven Fielding said the purge was a bid by Starmer to reinforce party discipline. "He wants to send a signal to all the others that rebelled over the welfare bill and have rebelled on other things that, 'Okay, you've got away with this one, but if you keep going, this is going to be your fate,'" Fielding told AFP. But the University of Nottingham politics professor added it was a risky strategy considering the large numbers of lawmakers who had opposed the welfare reforms. "I think he's going about it in the wrong way. He needs to talk (to) and understand why the MPs are doing this," Fielding told AFP. Labour did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Starmer's popularity has plummeted since he won a landslide general election result in July last year, ending 14 consecutive years of Conservative rule. Labour now trails Eurosceptic Nigel Farage's hard-right Reform UK party in many national polls, although the next election is likely four years away. In June, the government reversed a policy to scrap a winter heating benefit for millions of pensioners, following widespread criticism and another rebellion from its own MPs. The same month, Starmer -- a former chief state prosecutor in England and Wales -- announced a national inquiry focused on a UK child sex exploitation scandal after previously resisting calls. The prime minister has a massive majority of about 160 MPs, meaning he should be able to force whatever legislation he wants through parliament. But some in the party complain of a disconnect between Starmer's leadership, which is focused on combatting the rise of Reform, and Labour's traditional centre-left principles. Confirming she had been suspended, Maskell urged Starmer to engage with his backbenchers, saying she wanted to see "bridges built" and this would "make him a better prime minister".
Bloomberg
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Labour Suspends UK MPs Following Welfare Revolt Earlier in July
Labour suspended a number of its members of Parliament for breaking party discipline following a large-scale rebellion over welfare cuts earlier this month. The Times of London and the Guardian on Wednesday said Labour had suspended at least three MPs, while the Financial Times said several were expected to be suspended. Neil Duncan-Jordan and Brian Leishman both confirmed their suspensions. The I named Chris Hinchliff as a third MP suspended, while the Independent said Rachel Maskell, one of the leaders of the welfare revolt, had also been called in to talk to the party's chief whip.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Three Labour MPs suspended for breaches of party discipline
Sir Keir Starmer has suspended at least three MPs for repeated breaches of party discipline, Sky News understands. Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff and Neil Duncan-Jordan have lost the whip, meaning they are no longer part of Labour's parliamentary party and will sit as independent MPs. A fourth MP, Rachel Maskell, is currently in meetings with party whips. All four had voted against the government's welfare reforms earlier this month. However, it's understood this isn't the only reason behind the decision. Over 100 MPs had initially rebelled against the plan to cut personal independent payments (pip). Ultimately 47 voted against the bill's third reading, after it was watered down significantly in the face of backlash. The three suspended MPs were all newly elected in 2024. Mr Hinchliff, for North East Hertfordshire, told local media in June that he was willing to lose the whip over the welfare reforms. He also proposed a series of amendments to the flagship planning and infrastructure criticising the government's approach. Mr Duncan-Jordan, the MP for Poole, led a rebellion against the cut to the winter fuel payments while Alloa and Grangemouth MP Mr Leishman has been critical of the government's position on Gaza. In a statement, Mr Duncan-Jordan told Sky News that he understood speaking out against benefit cuts would "come at a cost" but said he "couldn't support making disabled people poorer". He added: "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. "To my constituents: it's business as usual. I remain your hardworking local MP, I will continue to take up your concerns and speak up for Poole." Mr Leishman echoed that sentiment, saying that despite his suspension he is "a proud Labour member" and remains "committed to the party". "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 said. "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." This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the latest version. You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow us on WhatsApp and subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Starmer suspends Labour rebels over repeated unrest
Sir Keir Starmer has suspended at least three Labour MPs in an effort to reassert his authority following a series of backbench rebellions. The suspensions are reportedly due to "persistent breaches of party discipline", with the exact number of affected MPs to be confirmed on Wednesday afternoon. The move comes as MPs prepare to depart Westminster for the summer recess early next week. There had been speculation that some Labour MPs were in talks to join a new party being established by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana. Rachael Maskell, Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliffe, and Neil Duncan-Jordan are understood to be among those expected to have the whip suspended.
