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Four Labour welfare rebels suspended

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The Labour party has suspended four MPs who were involved in the welfare rebellion, on the grounds that they were repeat offenders.

Neil Duncan-Jordan, Chris Hinchliff,  Rachael Maskell and Brian Leishman have all had the whip removed and will now sit as independent MPs until their suspension ends.

Three other rebel MPs have lost their unpaid posts as trade envoys:   Rosena Allin-Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammad Yasin.

The move is seen as a warning to MPs:  one rebellion will be overlooked but don’t even consider doing it a second time.

With a large number of other welfare benefits changes in the pipeline, as well as other controversial issues such as planning law and special educational needs provision, ministers are clearly hoping to scare MPs into obedience.

Whether this is a tactic that will work, or whether it will simply increase the disconnect between the top of the party and backbenchers, remains to be seen.

You can drop an email of support to the punished MPs:

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Matt
    · 1 months ago
    hello all, hope you are all keeping calm!

    Apologies for the late email - been on annual leave - but here is a copy of the email I received from Steve Race, MP for Exeter

    From:
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Gingin
    · 1 months ago
    This makes me very nauseous:

    'Starmer's chief of staff is top paid special adviser'
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8d6n9e870ro
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Sam
      · 1 months ago
      @Gingin I don't know why he still has a job, by all accounts he was the one yelling at back benchers and generally making actual communication between pm and MPs difficult. You'd think he'd be fired since if they had all talked and listened the government wouldn't have had such an embarrassing shit show with welfare
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    HL
    · 1 months ago
    Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle to move, as an amendment to the motion that the bill be now read a second time, at end to insert "but regrets the impact of the Bill, particularly with regard to age discrimination, the impact on people with high levels of need and mental health conditions, and the overall impact on rates and severity of poverty among people with disabilities, and notes the human rights concerns expressed by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities."
    Universal Credit Bill – motion to regret

    Natalie Bennett - X
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    HL
    · 1 months ago
    Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle to move, as an amendment to the motion that the bill be now read a second time, at end to insert "but regrets the impact of the Bill, particularly with regard to age discrimination, the impact on people with high levels of need and mental health conditions, and the overall impact on rates and severity of poverty among people with disabilities, and notes the human rights concerns expressed by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities."

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    HL
    · 1 months ago
    Lords debate Universal Credit Bill

    Speakers

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    D
    · 1 months ago
    There was a person asking for the transcript of last weeks work &pension committee meeting with liz Kendall 

    I’ve managed to find it:


    The following was also published by the same committee members:



    Got to say I’m still very confused of what the gov managed to sneak through in this bill that will affect existing uc lcwra claimants (as in are we actually under the old rules next uc reassessment - are descriptors & substantial risk the same or now useless protection mechanisms)

    I don’t think disability organisations understand everything that this bill impacts and MPs certainly didn’t (it wasn’t MPs fault things were rushed and they couldn’t read the bill more throughly - however they shouldn’t of allowed the gov to pressurise them to confirm to the gov rush job - and hopefully those rebels who u turned are keeping track and paying action to ‘new’ details coming out and be willing to raise their hand to admit if they didn’t realise some damaging details at the time of voting - bottom line is we still need the flip flop rebels going forward and disabled are better allies for their positions as MPs than the Labour higher ups)


  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    D
    · 1 months ago
    https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2025/07/20/dwp-training-documents/

    Anyone surprised!
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    D
    · 1 months ago
    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/keir-starmer-labour-control-rachael-maskell-rebels-b2791874.html
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Gingin
      · 1 months ago
      @D To correct my reply, I emailed the 7, not 4. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Gingin
      · 1 months ago
      @D I'm proud a fellow Christian is showing that her values dictate her politics and not the other way around, and that she won't waver even after Starmer's latest cowardly move. Many other politicians have shown they have real guts too.
      After I emailed the brave 4 MPs, I received a 'thank you' reply from Neil Duncan-Jordan. Good to get feedback that my expressed appreciation means something. I don't want them to feel forgotten after they stood up for us. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    D
    · 1 months ago
    https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/dwp-staff-stole-benefits-that-should-have-gone-to-pensioners-and-disabled-people-3810495
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Boo
      · 1 months ago
      @D I’m totally lost for words, “More than £6m of taxpayers' money has been lost due to fraud by DWP staff since 2020, with the highest figures in 2025.”
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Boo
      · 1 months ago
      @D The damn cheek of it all, when minister say they are cracking down on fraud in the benefits system, when it’s reported in the newspapers that benefit cheats are defrauding taxpayers and now we find out the extent of the fraud is some of the employees of the DWP, you couldn’t make it up!

      Yet the untold harms that are caused by the assertion that its benefit claimants defrauding the system with the general population believing chronically sick and disabled claimants are gaming the system and then dwp are trying their hardest to make it even harder for genuine claimants not for some of those who work for the government machinery to pocket the money fraudulently for themselves!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Quietplease
      · 1 months ago
      @D Just saw this! As they say, you couldn't make it up. Interesting to see where this story goes from here. I guess it will be given the 'few bad apples' treatment and quickly disappear from the headlines.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Anon 25
    · 1 months ago
    Dr Jay Watts, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Activitist
    Twitter:  @Shrink_at_Large
    Date:  Jul 18
    LORDS REVIEW UC BILL ON TUESDAY
    Lords can't stop UC Bill BUT every speech in our support builds legal case and hopefully will encourage support for Baroness Bennett's fab 'motion to regret'.
    Please email the template or your version to speaking Lords (Email template and contact emails provided here):  

    See full article here:

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Lost and depressed
    · 1 months ago
    This is so depressing and discouraging.
    I’ve hit rock bottom and this has impacted my mental and physical health.
    I’ve been homebound since beginning of the month and I don’t think I can carry on like this 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Ivan
      · 1 months ago
      @Lost and depressed Try to believe in yourself & your hidden strengths. We all have them. However, easy to imagine that an increasing number of people can certainly empathise with you. We've either been in a similar dark place, or we're there right now. But as dark & as depressing & as burdensome as life can be, it will pass (eventually). That you've hit rock bottom means that the only way is back up. It's never easy or that quick. Sometimes the struggle never really ends. For eg., I've long given up on lasting happiness. But don't let these immoral, fiscally-minded charlatans in positions of power drag you down. They know nothing of what we go through every day. You're better than their ilk & you deserve better. Stay strong. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Helen Galloway
    · 2 months ago
    Can we start a petition to oppose these suspensions. I don’t have the experience to start this myself or know what to say but I do think it should be done. Any feedback anyone 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Helen Galloway
      · 1 months ago
      @CaroA Thank you for that information I’ll have a think on that. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      CaroA
      · 1 months ago
      @Helen Galloway Hi Helen

      I think you’ve had a really important idea — and yes, a petition could definitely be started to oppose the suspensions.

      I’ve also been thinking it’s preposterous that Stephen Timms and Liz Kendall are being kept on after the debacle of the welfare bill — so a petition could also call for their removal, alongside reinstating the MPs who took a stand.

      You can start a petition anonymously on Change.org:
      – Use a name like “Concerned Citizen”
      – Don’t upload a photo or make your profile public

      A possible title might be:
      “Reinstate MPs Who Defended Disabled People – Hold Ministers Accountable”

      And the petition could call for:
      – Reinstating suspended MPs
      – Removing Timms and Kendall
      – A proper, disabled-led review of the reforms

      If you'd like help drafting it, I’d be happy to assist.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    HL
    · 2 months ago
    As requested -

    Universal Credit Bill - and motion to regret, 22 July

    The Hansard Report is published the next working day.

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    D
    · 2 months ago
    From disability rights uk:

    APPG on Disability is meeting to discuss the welfare system on:

    📅 Monday, 21st July
    ⏰ 2-3pm

    We need as many Disabled people in the room to share your experiences and what needs to change!

    Email appgsecretariat@disabilityrightsuk.org for confirm your attendance!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      JHF
      · 2 months ago
      @D This is it guys. This is where we not only begin to get a say on the Timms review, but also put our demands in for Current Claimant Protection (CCP). Have your say.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    HL
    · 2 months ago
    Some positive news -

    Universal Credit Bill - motion to regret
    Baroness Bennett, Green Party

    According to the UK Parliament website, this means that -
    Even if agreed to, the motion will not stop or amend the legislation, but gives members an opportunity to put on record their dissent.

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Boo
      · 2 months ago
      @HL Can someone put a link to the transcript or recording as we might be able to use these comments when contributing to Timms review and any legislation that may come forward in the future, please.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Boo
    · 2 months ago
    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/martin-lewis-dwp-charity-debt-fraud-uc-deductions-b2790926.html

    Interesting article featuring in the independent, “Martin Lewis’ charity says DWP is ‘more aggressive than banks’ in clawing back debt”
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Cuckoo21
      · 2 months ago
      @Boo Martin Lewis is fantastic. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    HL
    · 2 months ago
    Some positive news -

    Universal Credit Bill - motion to regret
    Baroness Bennett, Green Party

    According to the UK Parliament website, this means that -


  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    Elizabeth Vidler
    · 2 months ago
    Sorry I can't agree with Jess Phillips, her comments on LBC were did not cover in glory, and as for a wealth tax, no sounds great until those with money clear off and then those with modest incomes become the wealthy, be careful what you wish for, everything this party does it does for a reason and it won't be for our benefit.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      James
      · 2 months ago
      @Elizabeth Vidler That argument does not hold water. If the rich are able to bugger off so easily than they are not actually investing their money into anything that benefits the country as a whole only the international financiers and banks. The wealthy are not here to spend money they are here to make money from financial instruments and many of those financial instruments go overseas anyway in the form of overseas investments and funds. Personally if a wealthy individual wants to make Britain their home then they should be contributing either through investments or dare I say it taxes! You can't have your cake and eat it too!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 2 months ago
      @Elizabeth Vidler
      "as for a wealth tax, no sounds great until those with money clear off"

      A land value tax is a better way of doing it. The super-rich may be able to move their money around at the touch of a button, but they can't uproot half of Buckinghamshire and take it to the Cayman Islands.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      John
      · 2 months ago
      @Elizabeth Vidler Yeah just look ar Switzerland they have a annual wealth tax on the worldwide assets of people living in Switzerland. And the rich people are all planning to leave Switzerland sometime, never.

      It the UK imposed a small tax on the wealth, I can't see it being a problem. I mean currently our taxes are ridiculous low on the rich. Own a £175 million penthouse in London, pay £2,000 council tax. Own a £500,000 home in South Oxfordshire pay £3,000 council tax. Yes the home worth 350 times more money pays 50% less council tax. Because you know, we don't want the super rich to flee the country. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    HL
    · 2 months ago
    Interesting article - perhaps some kind of wealth tax could actually work? -

    Labour shouldn’t fear taxing the rich - the people I work with would welcome it

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    YogiBear
    · 2 months ago
    How much longer can Keir Starmer last? Principled MP's who have been suspended. They were looking out for the vulnerable. It's a pity there's not a lot more MP's like them.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      Fiona
      · 2 months ago
      @John Call me paranoid,but I'm not surprised Diane Abbott lost the whip the day after the other 4 disability defenders also lost the whip,he definitely doesn't want Miss Abbott anywhere near the Labour party unfortunately I don't think he wants the sick and disabled just their votes, same for 16 year old disabled kids he wants their votes, but not them. He,s vindictive and so sad for Labour ex-voters.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 2 months ago
      @GLB
      "Shame it hasn't triggered a vote of no confedence for keir/Reeves/Rayner, Kendel and sterling can go aswell🤔🙏"

      If Labour get thumped at the May 2026 local elections in England and the elections in Scotland and Wales - and it's hard to see what could come along to save them from such a result - then Starmer will be in serious trouble. Whether it would lead to a leadership challenge is hard to say, but it's not impossible by any means. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      GLB
      · 2 months ago
      @YogiBear
      Shame it hasn't triggered a vote of no confedence for keir/Reeves/Rayner, Kendel and sterling can go aswell🤔🙏
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      tintack
      · 2 months ago
      @John
      "Even the written parliamentary questions around the Universal Credit and Personal Independence bill were mostly, How many people are going to lose their PIP in my constituency? As MPs presumably were deciding their position based on the size of their majority at the last general election and the number of votes they might lose. Not affecting existing claimants, I think, was more about MPs wanting to protect their position as MPs than genuinely caring about disabled people."

      That's probably true in some cases, though in fairness I think some of them were genuinely furious about what the government was trying to do. I would say that applies to those who were willing to vote against the government on third reading. But yes, some of them probably worked out the electoral consequences of hitting existing claimants and realised they would be toast if that happened.

      This is why I expect that, whether they like it or not, the government will have to agree not to subject existing PIP and UC Health claimants to whatever assessment emerges from the Timms review. The same logic will apply. Labour MPs will know that if they vote for something which means existing claimants get clobbered, those claimants will vote against them; in all probability so will their family members. Given that many of these Labour MPs are sitting on quite small, precarious majorities, that would easily be enough to make the difference between them keeping or losing their seats. And nothing concentrates an MP's mind like the prospect of losing their seat. There is little point in worrying about what the party whips might do if you vote for something which is likely to lose you your seat anyway. 

      Voting for something which only hits future claimants is a different matter. It's completely morally wrong of course, but looked at from a cynical, electoral point of view, it's much less risky. Future claimants are people who, for the most part, don't currently have a serious illness or disability, don't expect to ever have to rely on the benefits system and therefore don't believe that benefit cuts will affect them. Indeed, some of them may even be people who currently support benefit cuts and will only find out what that means in practice when life takes an unexpected turn for the worse. Unlike existing claimants, these are people whose votes will not be decided by how their MP votes on this issue. So if the government agrees that the post-Timms assessment will only apply to future PIP and UC Health claimants, they will have a decent chance of getting it through. If they don't agree to that there will be another major rebellion and recent events will be repeated.  

    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      John
      · 2 months ago
      @YogiBear Starmer could face a leadership contest if Labour do badly in the May 2026 local elections. As it will become obvious to MPs if they are in danger of losing their seats in parliament if he stays as leader. Which is all most MPs seem to care about. Even the written parliamentary questions around the Universal Credit and Personal Independence bill were mostly, How many people are going to lose their PIP in my constituency? As MPs presumably were deciding their position based on the size of their majority at the last general election and the number of votes they might lose. Not affecting existing claimants, I think, was more about MPs wanting to protect their position as MPs than genuinely caring about disabled people. After all, having empathy is not a decision and is not based on the date someone became ill or disabled.

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