US EditionStarmer defends suspending rebel MPs after backbench criticism
UNITED KINGDOM, JUL 18 – Four Labour MPs lost the whip for repeatedly breaking party discipline over the Universal Credit Bill, highlighting internal divisions within the party under Starmer's leadership.
- On July 17, 2025 in Parliament, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer suspended the whip from four MPs, they had defied the party on the Universal Credit Bill.
- Amid last month’s rebellion over disability benefit cuts, Maskell said she stood with colleagues, and the suspensions followed repeated breaches of party discipline.
- Clive Lewis, Richard Burgon and Jon Trickett supported the suspended MPs, warned membership could be alienated, and Jess Phillips said `If there's no discipline, you can't govern`.
- Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defended his decision, stating, `Everyone was elected on our manifesto`, and argued breaking party ranks during votes was unacceptable.
- Rebel support and leadership defenses underscore potential long-term fractures within Labour, as allies argue enforcing party unity is vital and dissent signals a deeper ideological divide.
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Lucy Powell says suspended Labour MPs could return to PLP in the future
Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell has indicated that four of the Labour MPs Keir Starmer suspended this week could have the whip reinstated at some point. Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchcliff, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Rachael Maskell were four of the MPs suspended this week pending a party investigation into “persistent breaches of party discipline”. Three other MPs – Rosena Allin-Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammad Yasin – had their trade …
Coverage Details
Total News Sources14
Leaning Left5Leaning Right1Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Left
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources lean Left
56% Left
L 56%
C 33%
11%
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