Labour readmits four MPs suspended for rebelling

Four MPs suspended by Labour for voting against the government on the two-child benefit cap have been readmitted into the parliamentary party.

Labour has restored the whip to Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain and Rebecca Long-Bailey, after they spent just over six months as independents.

Three others who rebelled in July’s vote – former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, Apsana Begum and Zarah Sultana – remain suspended.

All seven MPs are on the left of the party but the three who have not had their suspension lifted have continued to be critical of the government over the past six months.

Writing on X, Sultana said she had only found out the news from a media report.

The MP for Coventry South added: “Turns out speaking up for Palestine is still a punishable offence.“

Their suspension came after they voted for an SNP proposal to scrap the two-child benefit cap, which prevents almost all parents from claiming Universal Credit or child tax credit for more than two children.

Although the government won the vote comfortably, it marked the first Commons rebellion of Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership.