Rebel Labour MPs Welcomed Back After Whip Suspension
The four remaining Labour MPs who were stripped of the party whip in July for being persistent rebels have now had the sanction lifted, marking the final chapter in a series of disciplinary actions against backbenchers. Neil Duncan-Jordan, Chris Hinchliff, Brian Leishman, and Rachael Maskell are the last of a group of penalised parliamentarians to be officially welcomed back into the parliamentary Labour party.
Resolution After Disciplinary Review
It is understood that the four MPs recently held discussions with the party's new chief whip, Jonathan Reynolds. Following a review of their conduct since the suspension, the decision was made to restore the whip, allowing them to fully participate as Labour members once more.
The original decision to remove the whip in July came as a surprise to many and was seen by some colleagues as a heavy-handed move by Keir Starmer's Downing Street operation. This action was perceived as an attempt to impose strict discipline after a humiliating government U-turn on welfare reform the previous month.
A History of Dissent
All four MPs had been openly critical of several government policies. Rachael Maskell, the MP for York Central, and Neil Duncan-Jordan, who represents Poole, had been at the forefront of opposition to the cut to the winter fuel allowance and other welfare reforms.
Chris Hinchliff, the MP for North East Hertfordshire, organised a significant rebellion concerning the government's flagship planning bill, publicly voicing concerns about its potential impact on nature. Of the group, all except Maskell are from the 2024 Labour intake of MPs.
Concurrently with the initial suspensions, party whips also removed trade envoy roles from three other MPs who had rebelled: Rosena Allin-Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, and Mohammad Yasin.
MPs Respond to Whip Restoration
In response to the news, Chris Hinchliff stated: "I'm pleased to have returned to the parliamentary Labour party and welcome the constructive discussions I've had with the new chief whip in recent months. As ever, my focus remains on serving the communities of North East Hertfordshire and contributing to Labour's historic mission."
Neil Duncan-Jordan told the PA news agency: "I've been part of the Labour and trade union movement for 40 years, so I'm pleased to have had the Labour whip restored today. I'll continue working hard for my constituents in Poole and standing up for Labour values."
Rachael Maskell affirmed her commitment, saying she was "Labour to the core and will always stand up for Labour values," and pledged to continue working hard for her York constituents.
Broader Context of Labour Discipline
This incident is part of a wider pattern of disciplinary actions within the Labour Party. In 2024, shortly after the general election, seven other Labour MPs lost the whip for supporting an amendment to the king's speech that called for an end to the two-child benefit cap.
Four of those MPs – Rebecca Long-Bailey, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain, and Richard Burgon – had the whip restored in January and February of the following year. Two others, John McDonnell and Apsana Begum, had it reinstated in September.
The final MP from that group, Zarah Sultana, has since cut ties with Labour and is attempting to launch a new left-wing party alongside Jeremy Corbyn, who was re-elected as an independent in the 2024 election.
A handful of other MPs elected on the Labour ticket still sit as independents, including Diane Abbott, who was suspended for a second time in July of this year after stating she did not regret past remarks on racism. Other former Labour MPs now sitting as independents include Rosie Duffield, Andrew Gwynne, and Dan Norris.
