Keir Starmer has suspended seven Labour MPs following his first internal rebellion as Prime Minister over the controversial two-child benefit cap.
The cap, which prevents parents on universal credit with three or more children from claiming additional support, has been a contentious issue for Starmer’s new Labour government.
Despite campaign promises, Starmer and his shadow ministers maintained that an immediate reversal of the policy was financially unfeasible.
However, pressure from charities, campaigners, and prominent figures including former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and former Tory home secretary Suella Braverman has intensified.
The rebellion, which is seen as a significant test for Starmer, culminated in a House of Commons vote where an amendment to remove the cap was defeated by 363 votes to 103. The seven Labour MPs who voted in favor of the amendment were Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain, Rebecca Long-Bailey, John McDonnell, and Zarah Sultana.
I voted against the two-child benefit cap which has contributed to rising and deepening levels of child poverty and food insecurity for many East End families.
I have now been informed that I have had the whip withdrawn.
— Apsana Begum MP (@ApsanaBegumMP) July 23, 2024
All seven are considered left-wing and had served in Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet.
Ahead of the vote, McDonnell, who was Corbyn’s shadow chancellor, stated he was motivated by Starmer’s call to put the country before the party.
Following the vote, the MPs had the Labour whip removed. On social media, Sultana criticized the decision, emphasizing her commitment to addressing child poverty and the impact of the cap on vulnerable children.
The suspensions reflect Starmer’s commitment to strict party discipline, a stance he has consistently emphasized since the election.
Labour leader Stephen Flynn of the SNP criticized the government’s response, arguing that Labour failed its first major test by not addressing the issue more decisively and taking ownership of the consequences of the policy.
This is a developing story.
