Keir Starmer has unleashed a furious ‘night of the long knives’ this afternoon, sacking multiple MPs ahead of the summer recess over their breaches of party discipline.
It has just emerged that at least three Labour MPs have been suspended from the parliamentary party, with one Labour source accusing them of “persistent knobheadery” in The Times.
The names are understood to be Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchcliff, all three of whom have rebelled on welfare cuts over the past year.
The number of sacked MPs may rise over the coming hours, as the PM has a final clearout of rebels before the summer break.
All three of the known-about suspensions are from the most recent 2024 intake, suggesting the Prime Minister wants to deliver a stark warning to other potential rebels ahead of their return after the summer.
It’s believed that Rachael Maskell, the York MP who organised the PIP rebellion, is also currently meeting with the Labour Party chief whip.
However, it’s a high-stakes gamble, given fears that more left-wing Labour rebels may be tempted to join Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s new breakaway party.
A new poll this week suggested that when included as an option, Mr Corbyn’s new party is already neck-and-neck with Labour.
Find Out Now asked 650 Britons who they would vote for, and discovered the Corbyn-Sultana party already winning over 15% backing, level pegging with Sir Keir Starmer.
It was reported earlier this month that the Prime Minister wanted to suspend numerous MPs involved in the major welfare cuts rebellion, which forced him and Rachel Reeves to back down over proposed changes to PIP eligibility.
A total of 47 Labour MPs rebelled on the crunch vote, the largest rebellion of his first year in office and the sixth largest rebellion in the history of Labour governments.
If all four sackings are confirmed, it will bring Labour’s overall seat count down from 412 at the election to 399.
Labour and government spokesmen have been approached for comment.
MORE TO COME…