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Four Labour welfare rebels suspended

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The Labour party has suspended four MPs who were involved in the welfare rebellion, on the grounds that they were repeat offenders.

Neil Duncan-Jordan, Chris Hinchliff,  Rachael Maskell and Brian Leishman have all had the whip removed and will now sit as independent MPs until their suspension ends.

Three other rebel MPs have lost their unpaid posts as trade envoys:   Rosena Allin-Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammad Yasin.

The move is seen as a warning to MPs:  one rebellion will be overlooked but don’t even consider doing it a second time.

With a large number of other welfare benefits changes in the pipeline, as well as other controversial issues such as planning law and special educational needs provision, ministers are clearly hoping to scare MPs into obedience.

Whether this is a tactic that will work, or whether it will simply increase the disconnect between the top of the party and backbenchers, remains to be seen.

You can drop an email of support to the punished MPs:

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    HL
    · 5 hours ago
    Some positive news -

    Universal Credit Bill - motion to regret
    Baroness Bennett, Green Party

    According to the UK Parliament website, this means that -
    Even if agreed to, the motion will not stop or amend the legislation, but gives members an opportunity to put on record their dissent.

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Boo
    · 5 hours ago
    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/martin-lewis-dwp-charity-debt-fraud-uc-deductions-b2790926.html

    Interesting article featuring in the independent, “Martin Lewis’ charity says DWP is ‘more aggressive than banks’ in clawing back debt”
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    HL
    · 5 hours ago
    Some positive news -

    Universal Credit Bill - motion to regret
    Baroness Bennett, Green Party

    According to the UK Parliament website, this means that -


  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Elizabeth Vidler
    · 6 hours ago
    Sorry I can't agree with Jess Phillips, her comments on LBC were did not cover in glory, and as for a wealth tax, no sounds great until those with money clear off and then those with modest incomes become the wealthy, be careful what you wish for, everything this party does it does for a reason and it won't be for our benefit.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    HL
    · 11 hours ago
    Interesting article - perhaps some kind of wealth tax could actually work? -

    Labour shouldn’t fear taxing the rich - the people I work with would welcome it

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    YogiBear
    · 20 hours ago
    How much longer can Keir Starmer last? Principled MP's who have been suspended. They were looking out for the vulnerable. It's a pity there's not a lot more MP's like them.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Fiona
      · 3 hours ago
      @John Call me paranoid,but I'm not surprised Diane Abbott lost the whip the day after the other 4 disability defenders also lost the whip,he definitely doesn't want Miss Abbott anywhere near the Labour party unfortunately I don't think he wants the sick and disabled just their votes, same for 16 year old disabled kids he wants their votes, but not them. He,s vindictive and so sad for Labour ex-voters.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 4 hours ago
      @GLB
      "Shame it hasn't triggered a vote of no confedence for keir/Reeves/Rayner, Kendel and sterling can go aswell🤔🙏"

      If Labour get thumped at the May 2026 local elections in England and the elections in Scotland and Wales - and it's hard to see what could come along to save them from such a result - then Starmer will be in serious trouble. Whether it would lead to a leadership challenge is hard to say, but it's not impossible by any means. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      GLB
      · 6 hours ago
      @YogiBear
      Shame it hasn't triggered a vote of no confedence for keir/Reeves/Rayner, Kendel and sterling can go aswell🤔🙏
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 7 hours ago
      @John
      "Even the written parliamentary questions around the Universal Credit and Personal Independence bill were mostly, How many people are going to lose their PIP in my constituency? As MPs presumably were deciding their position based on the size of their majority at the last general election and the number of votes they might lose. Not affecting existing claimants, I think, was more about MPs wanting to protect their position as MPs than genuinely caring about disabled people."

      That's probably true in some cases, though in fairness I think some of them were genuinely furious about what the government was trying to do. I would say that applies to those who were willing to vote against the government on third reading. But yes, some of them probably worked out the electoral consequences of hitting existing claimants and realised they would be toast if that happened.

      This is why I expect that, whether they like it or not, the government will have to agree not to subject existing PIP and UC Health claimants to whatever assessment emerges from the Timms review. The same logic will apply. Labour MPs will know that if they vote for something which means existing claimants get clobbered, those claimants will vote against them; in all probability so will their family members. Given that many of these Labour MPs are sitting on quite small, precarious majorities, that would easily be enough to make the difference between them keeping or losing their seats. And nothing concentrates an MP's mind like the prospect of losing their seat. There is little point in worrying about what the party whips might do if you vote for something which is likely to lose you your seat anyway. 

      Voting for something which only hits future claimants is a different matter. It's completely morally wrong of course, but looked at from a cynical, electoral point of view, it's much less risky. Future claimants are people who, for the most part, don't currently have a serious illness or disability, don't expect to ever have to rely on the benefits system and therefore don't believe that benefit cuts will affect them. Indeed, some of them may even be people who currently support benefit cuts and will only find out what that means in practice when life takes an unexpected turn for the worse. Unlike existing claimants, these are people whose votes will not be decided by how their MP votes on this issue. So if the government agrees that the post-Timms assessment will only apply to future PIP and UC Health claimants, they will have a decent chance of getting it through. If they don't agree to that there will be another major rebellion and recent events will be repeated.  

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      John
      · 11 hours ago
      @YogiBear Starmer could face a leadership contest if Labour do badly in the May 2026 local elections. As it will become obvious to MPs if they are in danger of losing their seats in parliament if he stays as leader. Which is all most MPs seem to care about. Even the written parliamentary questions around the Universal Credit and Personal Independence bill were mostly, How many people are going to lose their PIP in my constituency? As MPs presumably were deciding their position based on the size of their majority at the last general election and the number of votes they might lose. Not affecting existing claimants, I think, was more about MPs wanting to protect their position as MPs than genuinely caring about disabled people. After all, having empathy is not a decision and is not based on the date someone became ill or disabled.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Mouseclickkeyboardtap
    · 22 hours ago
    From Wikipedia "The Labour Party, often referred to as Labour, is a political party in the United Kingdom that sits on the centre-left (THEY ARE NOT EVEN IN THE CENTER NOW, MORE LIKE FAR RIGHT!) of the political spectrum. The party has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists.( NOT NOW THEY DON'T!) It is one of the two dominant political parties in the United Kingdom; the other being the Conservative Party. Labour has been led by Keir Starmer since 2020, who became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom following the 2024 general election."

    Labour today are nothing like what they are supposed to be or represent Blue Tory and Red Tory! Thank you to these Labour MPs for saving lives!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Gingin
    · 22 hours ago
    I’ve emailed these heroes
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      CaroA
      · 12 hours ago
      @Gingin
      Ditto Gingin I sent the following below.


      .......


      I just wanted to thank you — sincerely and deeply — for taking a stand against the government’s proposed disability benefit reforms.

      Although I’m not in any of your constituencies, I felt moved to write because your principled stance meant so much to me personally, and to many others living with chronic illness, disability, and deep fear about what lies ahead.

      You each chose to rebel — knowing there might be consequences — and in doing so, you gave many of us a sense of dignity, hope, and visibility in a political time that has felt relentlessly cruel.

      Please know that your courage and compassion have not gone unnoticed. You are appreciated — more than words can fully express.

      With heartfelt thanks
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    D
    · 1 days ago
    https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2025/07/17/dwp-deloitte-benefit-fraud/
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    D
    · 1 days ago
    https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2025/07/17/dwp-pip-latest-news/
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Ivan
    · 1 days ago
    He's now suspended Diane Abbott for standing by a letter on racism written in 2023. Now a sensible, more balanced PM might have had a few quiet words with Diane & moved on. But we know the fraud in No 10 has ulterior motives to suspend Abbott as he never wanted her back in the first place for her strong stand behind principles long-rooted in the Labour tradition. If conscientious Labour MPs want a future in Parliament, they need to do the right thing & call for a confidence vote in the useless Starmer. The sooner, the better. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    James
    · 1 days ago
    Labour suspends Diane Abbott for second time over racism comments! 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    HL
    · 1 days ago
    Interesting article –

    Bluster, bullying, suspensions – this is no way to run the Labour party

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    tintack
    · 1 days ago
    A special mention for Jess Phillips, who has defended the suspensions because of the need for MPs to "work as a team". You may recall Jess demonstrating her own commitment to teamwork when Corbyn was Labour leader by stating that she wouldn't stab him in the back, she'd stab him in the front.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      rookie
      · 6 hours ago
      @tintack Disappointing from Phillips. What's she thinking?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Ginny52
    · 1 days ago
    These brave people literally saved lives.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Pixelmum
    · 1 days ago
    Diane Abbott has now been suspended.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Mslincs
    · 1 days ago
    There is always someone waiting in the wings that will push him out when he is not expecting it.  That man is a liar and he needs to go today!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    rookie
    · 1 days ago
    Starmer and the gang allowed themselves to be rolled over by the rebels, then suspended them. Total cowards. They should have stood by their measures if they believed in them, and disciplined the rebels before the vote. It's obvious they only conceded to avoid defeat in the commons.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Cheekyfeet
    · 1 days ago
    So 16 to 17 year olds will now be allowed to vote for a party that will/might take away their entitlement to benefits if they are sick and disabled until the age of 22, doesn't make sense, so 16 to 17 year olds can work, pay national insurance, pay income tax, etc but will not be able to claim any disability benefits, what sane young sick and disabled person between the age of 16 and 22 would want to vote for a party that does NOT represent them and their needs in any way?

    Also I see Kendall was flapping her robotic lips about getting the sick and disabled back into work again...was she actually at the fiasco  house commons on July 8th and 9th, obviously she didn't get the memo that her policies are crap, horrible, evil carnage dressed up as support she's in The Telegraph saying more sick and disabled people will have to go back to work to pay for an aging population blah blah blah same ole same ole drivel, but she is hell bent on making our lives a total misery may be then and only then she will be the happiest person on earth. I just hope she falls from grace with a huge bump, so I can see the next 18 months to 2 years being huge amounts of horrid vitriol in the gutter press about the disabled so I'd avoid the red tops and any Rupert Murdock media outlets..Kendall and her bunch of cohorts will revel in it! 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      John
      · 1 days ago
      @Cheekyfeet Under the current system most people need to be 18 to claim UC LCWRA.

      The government's issue with this is people going straight from education on to UC. As getting UC health would mean they get more money and are only required to engage in support conversations. Which the government views as a perverse financial incentive and abandoning people to a life of dependency.

      What they want is no financial incentive to claiming to be incapable of working, and no option of avoiding up to full conditionality and sanctions regime at the discretion of a work coach. Removing young adults under 22 eligibility for UC health element achieves this.

      The same issue is dealt with for older people by creating the new time limited contributions based unemployment benefit. So a worker who becomes too ill or disabled to carry on in their job has to go through a period of up to full conditionality and sanctions at the discretion of a work coach. They cannot opt to get UC health because contributions based benefits take precedence over means tested benefits. And there is no financial incentive as UC health will be less money than the new contributions based unemployment benefit.

      The government blames the current welfare system for encouraging people to be deemed too ill or disabled to work. The government believes a changed welfare system will save people from a life of dependency. In effect the government thinks disability and chronic illnesses are being used as an excuse to not work and enjoy a life on the sofa at taxpayers expense. They think not working due to disability or illness is a aberrant lifestyle choice. Those who were before seen as genuinely deserving of support are now cast as taking the Mickey and deserving being demonised and scapegoated. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Tallbob2
      · 1 days ago
      @Cheekyfeet I have faith young people - they can smell BS a mile off. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Matt
    · 1 days ago
    So, 16-17 year olds allowed to vote in the next GE? Scared Starmer? How very expedient!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Gingin
      · 1 days ago
      @John Like they care one iota what they promised in their manifesto. It made no mention of pulling the rug from under disabled and sick people 🙄
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 1 days ago
      @Matt If he's banking on them voting Labour he might be in for a shock.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      John
      · 1 days ago
      @Matt It was in the Labour manifesto. 

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