Overview

• Four MPs—Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Rachael Maskell—have had the Labour whip removed indefinitely after voting against government welfare reforms.
• Three other MPs—Rosena Allin Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammed Yasin—were stripped of their trade envoy roles as part of the sanctions.
• Starmer’s team cited “persistent breaches of party discipline” after backbench revolts over cuts to disability benefits and winter fuel payments prompted Treasury U-turns.
• The disciplinary purge is designed to reinforce leadership control and discourage further rebellions within the parliamentary party.
• Labour’s left has criticised the action as heavy-handed, warning that it could deepen party rifts and fuel speculation of a Corbyn-led breakaway.