Constituents critical of York MP Rachel Maskell's suspension from Labour

BBC News

a day ago

On Wednesday, York Central MP Rachael Maskell was suspended from Labour, along with three other MPs, for repeated breaches of party discipline.It came after she was a key figure in organising a rebellion against her party's welfare reform bill, which she said would introduce "Dickensian cuts belonging to a different era and a different party".Maskell defended her decision as standing up for disabled people but the prime minister argued the MPs were "elected on a Labour manifesto" and so should back the government's agenda.But what do Maskell's York constituents think? People in Acomb have spoken to the BBC about their reaction to the news.
'Absolutely disgusting'
Richard Lowe, from the Huntington Road area of York, is visiting shops on Front Street with his wife. When quizzed about Maskell's suspension, he says this is a topic the couple has discussed in depth, due to their careers in healthcare."Rachael Maskell, for me, embodies what the Labour movement should be," the former mental health nurse says."My thoughts are that the suspension is absolutely disgusting."As she says, she's been a Labour member for 34 years, she's stood up for disability rights, she's a disability campaigner."As an ex-nurse, Richard says he has always had a duty of care to his patients - and that Maskell has a duty of care to her constituents."I won't be voting Labour at the next general election," he says. "If Rachael Maskell is still an independent MP, I'll vote for her but I'm not voting Labour."I hope she's retaken into the Labour Party very shortly. I can't see it happening myself, but there you go."
'Where are the lines?'
Sat on a bench alongside their dog are Angela and her mother-in-law, Carole, who both live locally. They explain they do not share the same political views as Maskell but were on the fence about Sir Keir Starmer's decision to suspend her. "It's difficult, isn't it? Everybody's entitled to their own opinion but where are the lines?" Angela asks."I think Labour has made a lot of terrible choices in the past year or so. "They're not doing themselves any favours."However, they both thought the welfare system needed an overhaul. "If you're a disabled person, you should be entitled to a benefit if that benefit is appropriate for your disability," Angela says."But I think possibly there's been a bit of a trend of people claiming disability benefits and I don't think there's been enough checks into the background of what's actually needed for some people."Carole believes more "double checks" should be made to see what benefit is fair for each claimant.
'Over the top'
Further down the street, Carolina Ficco, 62, also stops to chat.She believes that no matter the political party, MPs should not be punished for representing their constituents. "I think it was extremely harsh and over the top that she's been suspended," Carolina says."Everybody is entitled to an opinion and if she's representing people, why should she be dismissed for that? "That's what politicians are supposed to be about, they're a voice for us. It's bang out of order."She says Maskell's suspension is "absolutely, totally wrong".
The prime minister defended his decision to suspend Maskell, along with Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff.He said: "I am determined we will change this country for the better for millions of working people – and I'm not going to be deflected from that."Therefore, we have to deal with people who repeatedly break the whip."Everyone was elected as a Labour MP on a Labour manifesto of change and everybody needs to deliver as a Labour government."In a statement, the York Central MP said she wanted this Labour government to be the "very best ever" and said she had "used every opportunity" to reach into government to be an advocate for disabled people."I am, of course, sad of the decision to suspend me for simply seeking the very best for others," Maskell said. "As someone of deep conviction and faith, I bring these values with me in all I do in representing my constituents and ensuring that I advocate for them, keep them safe and ensure that their voices are taken into the very heart of politics."
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