Sir Keir Starmer has suspended at least four rebellious Labour MPs over “persistent breaches of party discipline” as the Prime Minister launches a left-wing purge just hours before the summer recess.
The Prime Minister, who previously suspended a cabal of seven hard-left MPs over a two-child benefit cap rebellion last summer, is expected to complete his crackdown on dissenting MPs later this afternoon.
Starmer had suffered the biggest revolt of his premiership just over a fortnight ago, with the Prime Minister being forced to water down his welfare reforms to prevent a potential Commons defeat.
Mutinous MPs were summoned to Chief Whip Alan Campbell’s office for a dressing down earlier this afternoon.
A source told The Times that some Labour MPs would be suspended for “persistent k**bheadery” and rebelling against Downing Street.
“The executions are continuing,” another insider warned.
Neil Duncan-Jordan and Brian Leishman have confirmed their suspensions from the parliamentary party, while it is believed that Chris Hinchliff has also lost the whip.
The trio of fresh-faced Labour MPs played pivotal roles in the recent welfare rebellion and held firm after dozens of colleagues accepted the Prime Ministers’ 11th hour concessions.
York Outer MP Rachael Maskell became the fourth Labour MP to be suspended just a few hours later.
Meanwhile, Labour MPs Rosena Allin Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammed Yasin have all been sacked as trade envoys.
Following his suspension, Duncan-Jordan said: “Since being elected, I have consistently spoken up for my constituents on a range of issues, including most recently on cuts to disability benefits.
“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, I’ve been part of the Labour and trade union movement for 40 years and remain as committed as ever to its values.”
Leishman added: “I wish to remain a Labour MP and deliver the positive change many voters are craving.
“I have voted against the Government on issues because I want to effectively represent and be the voice for communities across Alloa and Grangemouth.
“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.”
A total of 47 Labour MPs rebelled against Starmer’s welfare reforms, cutting the Prime Minister’s majority to just 75.
The Prime Minister initially stopped short of dishing out any punishments to his rebels.
However, today’s purge left one left-wing Labour MP warning the Prime Minister: “It doesn’t look good for [Starmer] that he’s having to do this.”
There had even been speculation that the Prime Minister is clamping down on his backbench rebels amid fears some could join Jeremy Corbyn’s rival party.
The Corbyn-supporting pressure group Momentum said: “Suspending the whip from MPs who stood against welfare cuts is a desperate act from a failing Government.
“This crack down on dissent is a pathetic response to dire poll ratings and threatens to tear apart not the Labour Left but the Labour Party itself.”
Starmer launched a separate purge just weeks after winning the 2024 General Election, with seven MPs being suspended on July 23 last year.
John McDonnell, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Imran Hussain, Apsana Begum and Zarah Sultana were all suspended for supporting an SNP amendment to scrap the two-child benefit cap.
Burgon, Byrne, Long-Bailey and Hussain’s suspensions were ended in early 2025, with Zultana later announcing her intention to co-lead Corbyn’s hard-left rival party.
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