Latest news with #LabourMPs
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Starmer sends remaining rebel Labour MPs warning
Sir Keir Starmer has sent a warning to Labour MPs who have rebelled against the government after suspending four MPs. The prime minister 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 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." 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. 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. 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."
Sky News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Starmer sends remaining rebel Labour MPs warning
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." What is the whipping system? 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. 15:47 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. 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."
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Rebel Labour MPs get email rebuke over welfare cuts
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has issued a warning to backbench Labour MPs against future rebellions, aiming to reassert his authority within the party. Forty-seven Labour MPs voted against the government's welfare bill, which led to a last-minute climbdown by the government on benefit cuts. Labour's Chief Whip, Sir Alan Campbell, this week emailed the rebel MPs, reminding them that their votes against the frontbench position constituted breaking the party whip. Sir Keir has suspended four Labour MPs due to their involvement in the rebellion and other breaches of party discipline. The government's U-turn on welfare cuts has created a £5bn financial gap, prompting calls from some Labour MPs for a wealth tax to address the shortfall.
Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Business
- Telegraph
The 26 MPs calling for a wealth tax vote ahead of Labour's Budget
MPs have called for a debate on a so-called 'wealth tax' ahead of the autumn Budget amid surging borrowing costs. Fourteen Labour MPs are among 26 members of Parliament who on Monday signed an early day motion (EDM) in support of an annual levy of 2pc on individual assets over £10m. EDMs are typically used by MPs to express support for a particular policy, and are one of the first steps towards an official debate. The 26 MPs – who also included six Independents, four Plaid Cymru MPs and one Alliance MP – said that a wealth tax could raise an estimated £24bn a year, a tempting figure given the increase in Government borrowing to £20.7bn in June. This higher-than-anticipated figure has raised chances of tax rises in the Budget as Chancellor Rachel Reeves seeks to plug a growing deficit. Cabinet ministers have so far played down the chances of a wealth tax being implemented, with one saying it was 'off the table'. The MPs' statement read: 'That such a measure would represent a fairer alternative to cuts and could provide urgently needed resources to tackle the poverty and inequality that blights our society – and calls on the Government to bring forward proposals for such a tax on extreme wealth ahead of the next Budget.' Labour MPs Richard Burgon, Imran Hussain, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Kate Osborne, Kim Johnson and Ian Byrne have sponsored the motion. Of the six Independent MPs who signed the document, five have previously been Labour MPs, including Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Brian Leishman, who had the whip removed earlier this month. Ms Maskell said: 'Increasingly, those with the highest levels of wealth are deriving their income from investments and assets, and yet their tax burden is inequitable. 'A wealth tax of 2pc on assets over £10m is popular, and is a first step in recognising progressive means of contributing to our country's future at a time when we need investment.' Mr Leishman MP added: 'There are grotesque levels of inequality in Britain, the sixth largest economy in the world. 'It does not have to be this way. We should be redistributing wealth and power across society for the benefit of the many. 'While the Government has taken some welcome steps in the right direction, addressing non-dom status and imposing VAT on private school fees, these policies do not come close enough to tackling the gross inequalities the working class faces today.' The motion was also backed by MPs including Diane Abbott, who was this month sanctioned for standing by comments in which she implied that the racism experienced by Jewish people was less significant than other forms of racism. Vocal Corbyn supporters, Apsana Begum and John McDonnell, put their names to the motion, alongside Alliance MP, Sorcha Eastwood, and four Plaid Cymru MPs, including Ben Lake, Llinos Medi, Liz Saville Roberts and Ann Davies. Some of Labour's biggest names, including Lord Kinnock, have advocated for a wealth tax. Ahead of this year's Spring Statement, Patriotic Millionaires, a campaign group which has long called for higher taxes for the super-rich, said that 80pc of UK-based millionaires would support a wealth tax. But The Times reported earlier this week that Ms Reeves was resisting calls for the implementation of such a levy, with Cabinet ministers calling it a 'non-starter'. Eight countries have previously implemented wealth taxes, including Austria, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Sweden and France, only to scrap them. Just four countries, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and Colombia still have a wealth tax. Dawn Butler, who is set to run in the 2028 contest for London Mayor, also backed the motion alongside Clive Lewis, Cat Eccles, Jon Trickett, Steve Witherden, Ian Lavery, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Grahame Morris and Imran Hussain. In March, Ms Butler said a wealth tax would be a better way to bring in money than cutting public services. She said: 'That is a better way to bring money in to help fill the black hole that we have found ourselves in because of the disaster of 14 years of Tory government.' Plaid Cymru MP, Ann Davies, said: 'An overwhelming majority of people across the UK support a 2pc wealth tax on assets over £10m. It's time Labour started listening. 'People are still struggling with the cost of living crisis, and our public services are on their knees. Yet, Labour continues to target those least able to shoulder the burden, from cutting disability benefits to slashing pensioners' winter fuel payments. 'A wealth tax offers a genuine opportunity to tackle the deepening inequality in our society.' A Treasury spokesman said: 'The best way to strengthen public finances is by growing the economy – which is our focus. Changes to tax and spend policy are not the only ways of doing this. 'We are committed to keeping taxes for working people as low as possible.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
'Pure greed': MPs demand Southern Water CEO refuses 'massive payout'
MPs have accused the CEO of Southern Water of "pure greed" and urged Lawrence Gosden to refuse a 'massive payout' after it emerged that his salary was set to double to £1.4m. The 19 Labour MPs who represent constituents served by Southern Water said they were "appalled" by the "shameful and blatant" attempt by the company to get around a bonus ban. In a letter, they listed recent failures including "major flooding," "sewage spills" and "eye-watering bill hikes of 46.7%," as reasons not to reward the firm's boss. The MPs wrote: "Customers will be shocked that while they are being asked to pay more, you will be laughing all the way to the bank. "We urge you to do the right thing and decline this disgraceful payment for failure." Mr Gosden was awarded £691,000 under a two-year long-term incentive plan on top of his current salary of £687,000. This is despite Southern Water being banned from paying bonuses after a serious sewage leak in the New Forest in Hampshire last year. It comes as the Environment Secretary Steve Reed announced that new legislation would rule out these types of pay increases in future. Speaking over the weekend, Mr Reed described the pay rise as "outrageous" and called on Mr Gosden to turn it down. He told the BBC: "I don't think Southern Water has performed well enough for that kind of pay increase to be merited." Read more:Labour to eliminate unauthorised sewage spillages in 10 years Southern Water has previously defended the decision, saying they have not paid out bonuses and have made record investments in order to turn around the failing business. The company has been approached for comment.
