Starmer suspends three Labour MPs for breaching party discipline

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has suspended three Labour MPs over breaching party discipline.

The BBC understands Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff have had the party whip removed, meaning the MPs will sit as independents in the House of Commons.

Senior Labour sources have not ruled out further MPs, including from earlier parliamentary intakes, being suspended later today.

Duncan-Jordan, Leishman and Hinchliff were all elected as Labour MPs for the first time last year.

It is not yet known specifically why the three MPs have lost the party whip, but the move comes after 47 Labour MPs rebelled against the government's proposed cuts to welfare and forced ministers to water down their plans.

All three of the suspended MPs voted against the government's welfare reform bill earlier this month.

The rebellion undermined Sir Keir's authority, which was weakened after a series of policy reversals, such as restoring the winter fuel allowance to millions of pensioners.

Duncan-Jordan, the MP for Poole, organised a letter warning the government's welfare changes were "impossible to support" without a "change of direction".

In a statement, 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.

"To my constituents: it's business as usual. I remain your hardworking local MP, I will continue to take up your concerns and speak up for Poole."

Leishman, the MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, has also been an outspoken critic of the government's shake-up of the benefits system.

He said: "I am a proud Labour member, and I remain committed to the party. 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.

"It is the honour of my life to be the MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, and my priority remains representing and fighting for constituents, whether they voted for me or not."

The BBC has asked Hinchliff for comment.