Labour Suspends Seven Rebel MPs for Defying Party Line on Two-Child Benefit Cap

Which seven dissenting members were removed from the Labour Party for their vote on the two-child benefit limit?

These independent-minded MPs supported a proposal to eliminate the two-child restriction on benefits and have consequently been stripped of their party affiliation. Sky News examines their identities.

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Wednesday, July 24, 2024, 12:

Labour has suspended seven MPs who defied party lines by voting against the government's policy limiting benefits to two children.

Dissident members of the party had supported a change to eliminate the limit, but as a consequence, they have been stripped of their party affiliation. This means they can continue to serve as Members of Parliament, but they will not be recognized as representatives of the Labour Party. This status will remain for six months, at which point it will be reassessed.

Who are the seven Members of Parliament? Sky News provides an explanation.

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John McDonnell

Arguably the most recognizable among the dissenters, John McDonnell held his highest-profile political role as the shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn.

He has served as the Member of Parliament for Hayes and Harlington since 1997.

In 2007, Mr. McDonnell had made an unsuccessful attempt to become leader, running against Gordon Brown

He consistently opposed former Labour administrations, notably over Iraq, and has been an active participant in the Socialist Campaign Group (SCG).

He spearheaded the opposition's voting against the government in this instance.

Rebecca Long-Bailey

Rebecca Long-Bailey, who first took office in 2015, was a part of both the Socialist Campaign Group and Jeremy Corbyn's leading team, ultimately holding the position of shadow business secretary.

In the 2020 leadership race, she aimed to succeed Mr. Corbyn at the helm of the party, but she came in second, garnering fewer than half the votes that Sir Keir Starmer received.

She was the favored candidate of the Corbyn faction within the party for leadership, yet this did not rescue her campaign.

Originally, she was a member of Sir Keir's shadow cabinet, but she was dismissed for posting an article that "included an antisemitic conspiracy theory."

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Zarah Sultana

Zarah Sultana, who is affiliated with the SCG and previously backed Mr. Corbyn, won her first election in 2019. Since her election, she has remained a strong presence on the left wing of the party.

Ms. Sultana has had previous encounters with her party's higher-ups. Following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, she faced the possibility of being stripped of her party whip after endorsing a letter from the Stop The War Coalition that condemned NATO. She subsequently retracted her signature.

Ms. Sultana has openly expressed her concerns regarding the dangers and security fears she has encountered as a Muslim Member of Parliament.

In a post on social media following her suspension, she stated that eliminating the two-child limit on benefits could raise 330,000 children out of poverty.

"She emphasized her commitment to advocating for society's most vulnerable members."

Richard Burgon

Similar to the individuals mentioned previously, Mr. Burgon was an advocate for Mr. Corbyn and belongs to the SCG.

In 2020, he ran for the position of deputy leader of his party, but he came in third, after Angela Rayner and Rosena Allin-Khan.

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After winning the election in 2015, he was appointed as a shadow minister in 2017, in the wake of widespread resignations that occurred due to dissatisfaction with Mr. Corbyn’s leadership of the party

He has previously faced criticism for endorsing Fidel Castro and Nicolas Maduro, along with his alleged remarks on Zionism.

Similar to Ms. Sultana, he initially endorsed a letter that condemned NATO following Russia's attack on Ukraine, but subsequently retracted his signature.

In a social media post, Mr. Burgon expressed his disappointment regarding the decision to suspend his party membership.

He expressed support for the government’s strategy, yet urged for a proposal to eliminate the cap, pressing Downing Street to "present a plan regarding this."

Profile: Apsana Begum

Ms Begum, similar to Ms Sultana, secured her initial election victory in 2019.

A member of the SCG, she was critiqued for endorsing the anti-NATO letter in 2022, a decision she subsequently retracted.

She became the first Member of Parliament in the UK to wear a hijab and has discussed her encounters with Islamophobia and misogyny.

Ms. Begum has expressed disapproval of her party's position on Islamophobia.

In 2021, she was acquitted of housing fraud and exonerated from accusations that she had dishonestly withheld information regarding her application for council housing in Tower Hamlets.

Regarding the limit on benefits for families with more than two children, Ms. Begum explained her vote by stating that the policy "has led to increased and more severe cases of child poverty and hunger" in her district.

Imran Hussain

Imran Hussain has been a Member of Parliament since 2015 and has held positions on the shadow front bench during the leaderships of both Mr. Corbyn and Sir Keir

In 2015, he supported Mr Corbyn's leadership bid, and in 2020, he endorsed Ms Long-Bailey for the leadership role and Mr Burgon for the deputy position.

After the leadership transition, he maintained his position as a shadow minister.

This situation changed in November of the previous year when he stepped down, protesting against Sir Keir's decision not to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.

Mr. Hussain expressed his dissatisfaction with the suspension, noting that his constituents are severely impacted by a policy that all groups combating child poverty have called on the government to abandon.

Ian Byrne

Ian Byrne joined Parliament in 2019, is a member of the SCG, and supports Mr. Corbyn.

In 2019, prior to his election, he was labeled as "sexist" by the then women and equalities minister Esther McVey, due to remarks he posted on social media.

He issued an apology for his remarks in a statement following the exposure of the posts, supported by Mr. McDonnell.

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Similar to others mentioned, he supported Ms. Long-Bailey and Mr. Burgon during the 2020 leadership and deputy leadership contests.

He mentioned that he opposed the cap because specialists believe it is the most effective method to quickly influence child poverty levels.

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