Starmer’s Stance: Labour Leader Suspends Seven MPs Over Two-Child Benefit Cap Rebellion

Starmer has temporarily removed seven MPs from the party for their dissent on the two-child benefit limit. Richard Burgon, John McDonnell, Imran Hussain, Apsana Begum, Zarah Sult of Ana, Rebecca Long-Bailey, and Ian Byrne will be without the party whip for six months, after which their cases will be reassessed.

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Tuesday, July 23, 2024, 11:

Sir Keir Starmer has removed seven Labour MPs from the parliamentary group following their vote against the government's stance, advocating for the elimination of the two-child limit on benefits.

Richard Burgon, John McDonnell, Imran Hussain, Apsana Begum, Zarah Sultana, Rebecca Long-Bailey, and Ian Byrne have all been suspended from their party's whip for a period of six months, after which the suspension will be reconsidered.

Dissenting Labour members joined forces with members of the Liberal Democrats, Green Party, Plaid Cymry, the SDLP, the Alliance Party, and independents such as Jeremy Corbyn to support a modification to the King's Speech that was suggested by the SNP.

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Sir Keir Starmer successfully quashed a challenge, winning by a margin of 174 votes, with a final tally of 363 to 103.

Sources indicated that prior to the vote, the dissent could potentially involve numerous members, until there were whispers of possible suspensions looming.

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In response to her suspension, Ms. Sultana stated, "The chief whip and the leadership of the Labour Party have notified me that I have been stripped of the whip for my vote to eliminate the two-child benefit cap, a move that could have raised 330,000 children out of poverty."

"I will consistently advocate for society's most vulnerable members."

A Labour MP, previously opposed to the two-child limit but who supported the government in the recent vote, expressed her decision was based on her belief that "the government is genuinely dedicated to helping children in poverty."

A source from the Labour Party informed Sky News' political editor, Beth Rigall, that the decision was made to demonstrate an expectation for Labour MPs to back the agenda they were voted in to implement.

Mr. McDonnell frequently opposed policies of past Labour administrations.

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What does the two-child benefit limit entail?

To summarize, the policy prohibits parents from receiving Universal Credit or child tax credit for a third child, except under certain circumstances.

The implementation of the cap was initiated by former chancellor George Osborne in 2015 as a series of modifications to the welfare system, and it officially took effect in April 2017.

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The financial assistance provided to a family for child-rearing is determined by their earnings, family size, and expenses related to childcare.

However, the cap has been criticized for contributing to an increase in child poverty in the UK.

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Sir Keir had initially advocated for eliminating the cap, but reversed his stance last year, citing the financial conditions that Labour would likely face should they secure a victory in the upcoming election.

On Monday, amidst growing pressure, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson indicated to Sky News that the government was contemplating lifting the cap, acknowledging however that it would be a costly action.

Estimates suggest that dismantling it could incur expenses of approximately £3 billion.

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