Sir Keir Starmer has sent a warning to Labour MPs who have rebelled against the government after suspending four MPs.
The prime minister suffered his largest rebellion on 1 July after 47 Labour MPs voted against the welfare bill, which had been heavily watered down after threats of a larger rebellion.
Last week, he suspended four of the backbenchers – Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Rachael Maskell – later defending his decision by saying those who “repeatedly break the whip” have to be dealt with.
Labour chief whip Sir Alan Campbell sent a letter, seen by Sky News, on Wednesday to the rest of the rebels, reminding them that voting against the government is breaking Labour’s rules.
Each rebel’s letter was personalised with a reminder of what and when they had voted against the government.
It was followed by: “I am writing regarding your vote in the above divisions.
“As you know, it is against the standing orders of the Parliamentary Labour Party to vote contrary to the frontbench position and in so doing therefore, you have broken the whip.”
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Most votes in parliament are ruled by the “whipping” system, where MPs must vote in line with their party.
Party whips, selected MPs and peers, rally MPs or peers to ensure they vote according to their leader’s agenda.
A one-line whip means MPs are “requested” but not required to attend the vote, a two-line whip signifies attendance is “necessary” and MPs must request permission to miss it, and a three-line whip means attendance is “essential”.
Disobeying the whip – voting against their party – can limit an MP’s chances of promotion; they can be selected for unpopular duties, have the whip suspended or even be expelled from the parliamentary party (to “have the whip removed”).
Some votes are “unwhipped” – a free vote – where MPs do not have to vote on party lines. MPs from all parties have been given a free vote for the Assisted Dying Bill.
Labour MP Jon Trickett, one of the welfare bill rebels, said he had received the letter informing him he had voted against the welfare reforms six times in one day.
“I don’t repent my votes. I was elected on a pledge to stand by working-class electors and above all the poorest,” he wrote on X.
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Sir Keir’s watered down welfare bill meant the government will only save £2 billion instead of the £5bn it said the original bill would save, The Resolution Foundation estimated.
He has admitted the week of the vote was “tough” and he should have engaged with backbenchers better.
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The PM also said he did not regret suspending the four Labour MPs, who now sit as independent MPs.
He told Sky News: “I’m determined that we will change this country for the better for millions of working people.
“I’m not going to be deflected from that and therefore we have to deal with people who repeatedly break the whip, because everyone was elected as a Labour MP on the manifesto of change and everybody needs to deliver as a Labour government.”
