Prime Minister Keir Starmer has suspended four Members of Parliament from the Labour Party on July 16, 2025, citing “repeated breaches of discipline” following a rebellion over welfare reform policies.
The decision, announced after a tense Prime Minister’s Questions session marked by visible discontent among government benches, targets MPs Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff, Neil Duncan-Jordan, and Rachael Maskell, who voted against a £5 billion budget cut proposal despite significant concessions. The suspensions, which strip them of the party whip, come as Starmer seeks to assert control amid growing backbench unrest, a challenge that has caught his administration off guard since taking office after a landslide victory in 2024.
The rebellion, driven by concerns over the impact on disabled constituents, saw nearly 50 MPs initially defy the leadership, though the bill passed with 335 votes to 260 after amendments. Suspended MP Maskell defended her stance, highlighting evidence of potential lives lost due to the cuts, while allies like Richard Burgon criticized the move as punitive rather than constructive.
The Conservative opposition seized the moment, labeling it a “desperate distraction” from economic woes, including a recent inflation surge. Starmer’s team insists the suspensions are necessary to maintain party unity ahead of the summer recess, but the action risks a backlash, with some predicting further defections as Labour navigates its shift toward fiscal restraint.