Overview
- Neil Duncan-Jordan, Chris Hinchliff, Brian Leishman and Rachael Maskell return to the parliamentary Labour party after meetings with the chief whip and a review of recent behaviour.
- The quartet were suspended in July for repeated breaches of party discipline after voting against the government on welfare changes affecting disability benefits.
- The welfare plans were later abandoned following a large backbench revolt, and the four MPs now rejoin the Labour benches following a period sitting as independents.
- Three of the four—Duncan-Jordan, Hinchliff and Leishman—were first elected in 2024, while Maskell was a prominent critic of the proposed cuts and other policies such as planning changes and the winter fuel allowance decision.
- Other disciplinary steps have included removing trade envoy roles from Rosena Allin-Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammad Yasin, while earlier rebels such as Rebecca Long-Bailey, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain and Richard Burgon had the whip restored earlier this year.