Sir Keir Starmer has suspended 4 Labour MPs right this moment for “repeated breaches of party discipline”.
Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Rachael Maskell had been suspended from the parliamentary Labour Occasion and can sit as impartial MPs.
All 4 voted in opposition to the federal government’s welfare reforms earlier this month, amongst 47 occasion MPs to insurgent.
However who’re the 4 MPs suspended? And the way important had been they of the federal government?
Brian Leishman
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The MP for Alloa and Grangemouth was first elected in final 12 months’s basic election. Whereas the constituency was contested for the primary time that 12 months, it might 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 occasion 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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9:36From 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 characterize 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to Parliament, the MP for North East Hertfordshire is without doubt one of the youthful politicians at 31 years outdated.
He received 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 in addition 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 didn’t 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, profitable his seat from the Conservatives by simply 18 votes. It was the primary time Labour had received 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’s been an outspoken critic of proposed cuts to welfare and incapacity funds, calling the welfare invoice a “dog’s dinner” and final 12 months 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 a part of the Labour and commerce union motion for 40 years and stay as dedicated 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.”
Rachael Maskell
Picture:Pic: UK Parliament
Shortly earlier than 4pm, the MP for York Central grew to become the fourth MP to be suspended by the federal government for rebelling.
In Parliament since 2015, Ms Maskell led the welfare revolt in opposition to the federal government’s reforms – and voted in opposition to them even after they had been considerably watered down.
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0:55Maskell slams ‘Dickensian’ welfare cuts
“I want to see instituted back in the heart of the party a recognition of the role of backbenchers.”
And chatting with Sky’s chief political correspondent Jon Craig after her suspension, she mentioned: “The rationale I’ve been suspended is as a result of I voted in the way in which I did. I consider I’m combating for those that actually matter, the poorest individuals in society.
“That is why the Labour Party was created – I will never give up that fight.”
