Labour suspends seven rebels who voted to scrap two-child child benefit cap | Labour

Seven Labour MPs have been suspended from the parliamentary party after voting against the government on a motion to remove the two-child benefit cap, the Guardian reports.

Keir Starmer’s first rebellion came after the Scottish National Party tabled an amendment to reject the measure, which was widely criticised by charities and child poverty campaigners.

Although Labour could not lose the vote on the issue, given its majority of 174, MPs expressed alarm at the strength of the whips’ warnings about a rebellion early in the parliament. The amendment was defeated by 363 votes to 103, giving Labour a majority of 260.

Among the seven people who voted for the SNP motion were key figures from the party’s left, including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who said before the vote: “I don’t like voting for other parties’ amendments, but I follow the example of Keir Starmer who said put country before party.”

Along with McDonnell, Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Zarah Sultana all voted for the amendment, with 42 Labour MPs not voting.

The seven MPs have had their terms suspended for six months, after which a review will be carried out. The move has angered some backbenchers, who said it was a major strategic mistake.

Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East, who did not vote for the amendment but spoke earlier in favour of scrapping the cap, told the Guardian: “The government’s approach to party discipline is appalling. No MP should have lost their majority because of their vote tonight, particularly on a policy that almost everyone in the Labour party opposes.”

“Our party has a huge majority. If it wants to govern from a position of strength, it must be able to tolerate disagreements without resorting to the harshest threats and sanctions.

“It doesn’t foster a healthy culture,” she added. “If MPs aren’t able to stand up to MPs when they think they’re wrong, the government is more likely to make bad decisions.”

The vote has also caused deep tensions among backbenchers. Some of those who support change have been angered by the fallout from the rebellion and believe the rebellion will make it harder for the government to make concessions on the issue and risks alienating new MPs. One MP said the tactic had been to “just be tough” rather than have a real discussion on the issue.

In what appeared to be a move aimed at appeasing potential rebels, Keir Starmer indicated for the first time on Monday that he would consider removing the cap, which had previously been seen as unaffordable. Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, said removing the cap was among measures the government would consider as part of a review into child poverty.

The SNP amendment was signed by 21 MPs, including Greens, Plaid Cymru and three independents, including Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader. Introduced in 2017, the restriction prevents parents from claiming benefits for more than two children, with some exceptions.

Siân Berry said the vote had “shown the value of Green MPs being able to vote with a clear conscience – not under pressure from the party leader”.

The Brighton Pavilion MP added on X: “This persistent poverty is a political choice of this government. We will continue to demand better from the Labour Party.”

Although the majority of Labour MPs who pushed for the cap to be scrapped are on the left of the party, there is support across the party. Rosie Duffield, the MP for Canterbury, said she would have rebelled to vote for the SNP amendment but was prevented from doing so because she had tested positive for Covid.

Kim Johnson said she had decided to vote with the government “for unity” but had previously submitted her own amendment which was not accepted.

After the vote, she stressed on X: “We have made things happen. The campaign will continue… The massive strength of feeling is undeniable. This must be a priority for our first budget.”

The removal of the cap is supported by the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and the Reform Party. Suella Braverman, who also abstained, told the House on Monday that the measure had not worked to stop people having more children. “I think the cap is making child poverty worse and it’s time to remove it,” she said.

The SNP’s Kirsty Blackman said the so-called “rape clause” – which requires women who have a third child as a result of rape to make a specific claim to get the extra allowance – was degrading. “Even if the government doesn’t want to change the two-child limit, it should do something about the rape clause and the evidence people have to prove to get the exemption,” she told the House.