Starmer suspends Labour MPs for breaching party discipline

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has suspended three Labour MPs over breaching party discipline.

Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman, and Chris Hinchliff have had the Labour whip removed and will now sit as independents in the House of Commons. All three were elected for the first time last year.

Their suspension follows a major rebellion earlier this month, where 47 Labour MPs voted against the government’s welfare reform bill—forcing ministers to scale back their plans. The exact reasons for the disciplinary action haven’t been confirmed, but party sources suggest more suspensions, possibly involving longer-serving MPs, could follow today.

Duncan-Jordan, MP for Poole, had helped coordinate a letter warning that the proposed welfare changes were “impossible to support” without a shift in direction. In a statement, he said:

“Since being elected I’ve consistently spoken up for my constituents, including opposing cuts to disability benefits. I knew this might come at a cost, but I couldn’t support policies that would make disabled people poorer.

I’ve been part of the Labour and trade union movement for 40 years, and I remain committed to its values. To my constituents: it’s business as usual. I’m still your MP, and I’ll keep standing up for Poole.”

Leishman, representing Alloa and Grangemouth, also opposed the welfare bill and has been vocal in his criticism of the government’s benefit reforms. He said:

“I’m proud to be a Labour member and I want to stay in the party. I ran to deliver the change people in Alloa and Grangemouth deserve.

I voted against the government because I believe my job is to speak up for people—not make their lives harder, especially after years of austerity. It’s the honour of my life to be their MP, and I’ll keep fighting for them, no matter who they voted for.”

Chris Hinchliff has yet to release a statement.

The rebellion has added to pressure on Sir Keir Starmer, whose authority has been tested recently by a string of policy U-turns, including restoring the winter fuel allowance to millions of pensioners.