Overview

• Forty-seven Labour MPs defied the whip in the July 23 vote on welfare reforms, marking the largest backbench rebellion of Starmer’s premiership this month.
• The government dropped its most contentious cuts, scaling back projected savings from £5 billion to about £2 billion to avoid a parliamentary defeat.
• Rachael Maskell, Brian Leishman, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Chris Hinchliff remain suspended for repeated breaches of party discipline.
• Chief whip Sir Alan Campbell sent personalised letters to each rebel outlining their votes against the government and reminding them they broke the whip.
• Starmer’s disciplinary actions and warning intend to shore up party unity as MPs head into the summer recess.