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

Keir Starmer has taken the historic step of suspending seven Labour MPs for their early defiance in backing an amendment to remove the restriction on benefits for families with more than two children.

The decision to suspend left-wing MPs from the party, such as former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, caused a stir within the party and received backlash from certain MPs who sided with the government.

After lengthy and tough negotiations led by party officials, a decision was made to support a Scottish National Party amendment that aims to put an end to a policy that has faced criticism from child poverty charities and advocates.

Several Members of Parliament expressed surprise at the strong enforcement of party discipline, intended to show new MPs the consequences of defying the party early in their term. The proposed change was not approved, with 363 votes against and only 103 in favor, giving Labour a significant majority of 260.

Prior to the vote, McDonnell expressed his reluctance to support amendments proposed by other parties. However, he stated that he would align with Keir Starmer's stance of prioritizing the country over party loyalty.

Former shadow chancellor and fellow MPs Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain, Rebecca Long-Bailey and Zarah Sultana all supported the amendment, while 42 Labour MPs did not vote.

All seven members have been temporarily banned from participating in parliamentary activities for six months, pending a review. This decision has caused frustration among certain members of the legislature, who feel it was a misstep in their strategy.

Nadia Whittome, the MP for Nottingham East, did not support the amendment but did speak out in favor of getting rid of the cap. She criticized the government's handling of party discipline, saying it was terrible. She believes no MP should have been punished for voting against a policy that the majority of Labour members disagree with.

Our party holds the majority. In order to lead effectively, it needs to handle differing opinions without resorting to intimidation or harsh punishments.

She mentioned that this does not promote a positive culture. If Members of Parliament are not able to oppose the government's decisions when they believe they are wrong, it increases the chances of the government making bad choices.

The decision to vote on the issue has created intense disagreements among members of parliament, with some supporters of the change feeling upset by the aftermath. They fear that the rebellion will make it more difficult for the government to compromise on the issue and may drive away new lawmakers. According to one MP, the approach taken was authoritarian, lacking meaningful dialogue.

Keir Starmer hinted on Monday that he may remove the cap to appease possible rebels. The cap was previously deemed too costly. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson mentioned that eliminating the cap will be one of the options the government will explore in a review on child poverty.

21 Members of Parliament, including representatives from the Green party, Plaid Cymru, and three independents (including Jeremy Corbyn), signed the SNP amendment. This rule, which was put into place in 2017, limits parents from receiving benefits for more than two children, with a few exemptions.

Siân Berry expressed that the vote illustrated the importance of Green MPs being able to vote based on their own beliefs, rather than being influenced by party mandates.

The representative of Brighton Pavilion stated on X: "The ongoing poverty is a decision made by the Government. We will keep asking for improvement from Labour."

Even though most Labour MPs advocating for removing the cap were considered on the more progressive side of the party, there is backing from various members. Rosie Duffield, who represents Canterbury in Parliament, expressed her intention to vote in favor of the SNP amendment but was unable to do so due to testing positive for Covid.

Kim Johnson decided to support the government for the sake of unity, even though her proposed amendment was not chosen. She expressed her concerns in the chamber on Monday, mentioning that her Liverpool Riverside constituency is now the most economically challenged in the country, with 47% of children living in poverty.

She explained to the members of Parliament that the issue at hand is not about having the financial means to implement important measures to reduce child poverty, like removing the two-child cap. It's more about considering the consequences of not taking action. She emphasized that her goal was to encourage constructive discussion, rather than causing further division.

Following the vote, she emphasized the importance of X saying, "We made progress. The campaign will not stop... The overwhelming support and passion cannot be ignored. It needs to be a top concern in our upcoming budget."

Duffield expressed that there will be ongoing pressure from within the party to remove the cap. She stated that she was upset about not being able to speak out against the two-child limit, but many Labour MPs have been opposing this harmful law since it was implemented. They will keep advocating for its removal as part of Labour's plan to decrease the unacceptable rates of child poverty.

Getting rid of the cap is supported by the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, the Greens and Reform. Suella Braverman, who also chose not to vote, said in a speech to the House on Monday that the cap has not been effective in preventing people from having more children. "I think the cap is making child poverty worse, and it's time for it to be eliminated," she stated.

Kirsty Blackman of the SNP expressed her disapproval of the "rape clause", calling it humiliating for women who have a third child due to rape to have to apply separately for additional benefits. She suggested that even if the government does not reconsider the two-child cap, they should at least address the issues surrounding the rape clause and the burdensome requirements for proving eligibility for an exemption.