UK Prime Minister Faces Scrutiny After Suspending 7 Labour MPs

UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is set to face intense questioning in the House of Commons on Wednesday after suspending seven Labour MPs for opposing a welfare policy.

According to AFP, these MPs were disciplined after supporting a motion to abolish the controversial two-child benefit cap, introduced by the previous Conservative government.

The policy limits benefit payments to the first two children in most families and has been in place since 2015.

Starmer’s suspension of the MPs is seen as a demonstration of his authority as he attempts to consolidate power and move Labour towards the political center.

The MPs’ rebellion against the welfare cap is an early test of his leadership since taking office just weeks ago following Labour’s landslide victory in the July 4 general election, which ended 14 years of Conservative rule.

Despite acknowledging the passion of MPs opposing the cap, Starmer stated there is “no silver bullet” for ending child poverty.

The move to suspend the MPs, including former finance spokesman John McDonnell, signals a decisive shift from the party’s previous hard-left stance under former leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose leadership saw Labour suffer its worst election defeat in nearly a century in 2019.

During the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions session at 11:00 GMT, the two-child benefit cap is expected to be a key topic.

On Tuesday, the House of Commons voted 363 to 103 against a Scottish National Party amendment to remove the cap, giving the government a majority of 260. However, more than 40 Labour MPs abstained, reflecting internal party tensions.

Liverpool MP Kim Johnson stated that she voted with the government “for unity” but acknowledged the significant opposition within the party. “We moved the dial, the campaign will continue,” she said.

Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s Westminster leader, criticized Labour for failing to deliver change from years of Conservative rule.

“This is now the Labour government’s two-child cap — and it must take ownership of the damage it is causing, including the appalling levels of poverty in the UK,” Flynn said.