Sir Keir Starmer has suspended four Labour MPs today for “repeated breaches of party discipline”.
Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Rachael Maskell were suspended from the parliamentary Labour Party and will sit as independent MPs.
However, Sky News understands that this isn’t the only reason behind the decision, and that more suspensions could come.
But who are the four MPs suspended? And how critical were they of the government?
Brian Leishman
Image: Pic: UK Parliament
The MP for Alloa and Grangemouth was first elected in last year’s general election. While the constituency was contested for the first time that year, it would have been an SNP seat notionally.
Mr Leishman is also a member of the Socialist Campaign Group inside Labour and was previously elected to Perth and Kinross Council in 2022.
A frequent voter against the government, he has criticised his party for not doing enough to save Grangemouth oil refinery, and rebelled against votes on the Winter Fuel Allowance and welfare.
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9:36
From April: Minister defends refinery closure
In a statement, he said: “I am a proud Labour member, and I remain committed to the party.”
He added that he wishes “to remain a Labour MP and deliver the positive change many voters are craving,” but added he voted against the government on some issues to represent his constituents.
“I firmly believe that it is not my duty as an MP to make people poorer, especially those that have suffered because of austerity and its dire consequences,” he said.
“It is the honour of my life to be the MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, and my priority remains representing and fighting for constituents, whether they voted for me or not.”
Chris Hinchliff
Image: Pic: UK Parliament
Another 2024 newcomer to Parliament, the MP for North East Hertfordshire is one of the younger politicians at 31 years old.
He won the constituency for the first time since it was established in 1997.
As MP, Mr Hinchliff has supported rebellions on cuts to welfare and the Winter Fuel Allowance, and also proposed amendments to the government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill – criticising the government’s consultation with private finance groups – in April.
So far, the MP hasn’t made a public statement, but he had previously said he didn’t mind losing the whip over his opposition to the welfare cuts.
The MP for Poole was also elected in the 2024 election, winning his seat from the Conservatives by just 18 votes. It was the first time Labour had won in the constituency.
Before standing for election, Mr Duncan-Jordan was a regional officer for UNISON, one of the largest trade unions in the UK.
He’s been an outspoken critic of proposed cuts to welfare and disability payments, calling the welfare bill a “dog’s dinner” and last year leading an early day motion to postpone an end to the Winter Fuel Allowance.
In response to losing the whip, said in a statement: “I understood this could come at a cost, but I couldn’t support making disabled people poorer”.
“Although I’ve been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party today,” he added, “I’ve been part of the Labour and trade union movement for 40 years and remain as committed as ever to its values.
“To my constituents: it’s business as usual. I remain your hardworking local MP, I will continue to take up your concerns and speak up for Poole.”
Rachael Maskell
Image: Pic: UK Parliament
Shortly before 4pm, the MP for York Central became the fourth MP to be suspended by the government for rebelling.
In Parliament since 2015, Ms Maskell led the welfare rebellion against the government’s reforms – and voted against them even after they were significantly watered down.
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0:55
Maskell slams ‘Dickensian’ welfare cuts
Earlier this month, she told Sky News presenterGareth Barlow: “No one feels comfortable when the family is arguing, and that’s why listening is so important.
“I want to see instituted back in the heart of the party a recognition of the role of backbenchers.”
And speaking to Sky’s chief political correspondent Jon Craig after her suspension, she said: “The reason I have been suspended is because I voted in the way I did. I believe I am fighting for people that really matter, the poorest people in society.
“That is why the Labour Party was created – I will never give up that fight.”
But what about his style ‘prince’? Some want that ditched too.
It’s a complicated but not impossible process. Andrew could, of course, just stop using it voluntarily.
Some want him to give up his home, too. For a non-working royal, the stately Royal Lodge, with its plum position on the Windsor Estate, is an uncomfortable optic.
With the reputation of the monarchy at risk, William does not want to appear weak. He’s putting loyalty to “the firm” firmly above his familial relationships.
Prince Andrew has always strongly denied the allegations, and restated on Friday: “I vigorously deny the accusations against me”. Sky News has approached him for comment on the fresh allegations set out in the Mail on Sunday.
But with Virginia Giuffre’s tragic death and posthumous memoir due out on Tuesday, Buckingham Palace will be braced for more scandal.
When Andrew gave up his titles, there was certainly a sense of relief.
There is now a sense of dread over what else could emerge.
Sky News’ royal commentator has explained why Prince Andrew has not given up being called a prince – while another expert has said “the decent thing” for him to do would be “go into exile” overseas.
Andrew announced on Friday that he would stop using his Duke of York title and relinquish all other honours, including his role as a Royal Knight Companion of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.
However, he will continue to be known as a prince.
Royal commentator Alastair Bruce said that while Andrew’s other honours and titles were conferred to him later in life, he became a prince when he was born to Elizabeth II while she was queen.
He told presenter Kamali Melbourne: “I think […] that style was quite special to the late Queen,” he said. “And perhaps the King, for the moment, thinks that can be left alone.
“It’s a matter really for the King, for the royal household, perhaps with the guidance and advice of government, which I’m sure they are taking.”
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2:49
Who pushed Andrew to drop his titles?
Since Andrew’s announcement, there has been speculation over whether any further measures will be taken – and one author has now called for him to “go into exile”.
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Andrew Lownie, author of The Rise And Fall Of The House Of York, said: “The only way the story will go away is if he leaves Royal Lodge, goes into exile abroad with his ex-wife, and is basically stripped of all his honours, including Prince Andrew.”
Royal Lodge is the Windsor mansion Andrew lives in with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who has also lost her Duchess of York title.
Image: Andrew and his former wife continue to live on the Windsor estate. Pic: Reuters
Mr Lownie continued: “He makes out he’s an honourable man and he’s putting country and family first. Well, if he is, then the optics look terrible for the monarchy. A non-working royal in a 30-room Crown Estate property with a peppercorn rent.
“He should do the decent thing and go. And frankly, he should go into exile.”
Mr Lownie added if the Royal Family “genuinely want to cut links, they have to put pressure on him to voluntarily get out”.
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1:11
Windsor’s take on Prince Andrew
Andrew’s decision to stop using his titles was announced amid renewed scrutiny of his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and fresh stories linked to the late Virginia Giuffre.
Ms Giuffre, who was trafficked by Epstein, alleged she was sexually assaulted by Andrew on three occasions – which he has always vigorously denied.
Bereaved families whose loved ones took their own lives after buying the same poison online have written to the prime minister demanding urgent action.
Warning: This article contains references to suicide
The group claims there have been “multiple missed opportunities” to shut down online forums that promote suicide and dangerous substances.
They warn that over 100 people have died after purchasing a particular poison in the last 10 years.
Among those who have written to Downing Street is Pete Aitken, whose daughter Hannah was 22 when she took her own life after buying the poison from a website.
Hannah was autistic and had ADHD. She was treated in six different mental health hospitals over a four-year period.
He said: “Autistic people seem to be most vulnerable to this kind of sort of poison and, you know, wanting to take their lives.”
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4:05
Pete Aitken speaking to Sky News
Sky News is not naming the poison, but Hannah was able to buy a kilogram of it online. Just one gram is potentially fatal.
“There’s this disparity between the concentration required for its legitimate use and that required for ending your life. And it seems quite clear you could make a distinction,” Mr Aitken said.
Analysis from the Molly Rose Foundation and the group Families and Survivors to Prevent Online Suicide Harms says at least 133 people have died because of the poison. It also says coroners have written warnings about the substance on 65 separate occasions.
The report accuses the Home Office of failing to strengthen the regulation of the poison and says not enough is being done to close dangerous suicide forums online.
Lawyers representing the group want a public inquiry into the deaths.
In a joint letter to the prime minister, the families said: “We write as families whose loved ones were let down by a state that was too slow to respond to the threat.
“This series of failings requires a statutory response, not just to understand why our loved ones died but also to prevent more lives being lost in a similar way.”
The group’s lawyer, Merry Varney, from Leigh Day, said: “The government is rightly committed to preventing deaths through suicide, yet despite repeated warnings of the risks posed by an easily accessible substance, fatal in small quantities and essentially advertised on online forums, no meaningful steps have been taken.”
Image: Hannah’s dad is one of the family members to have signed the letter
A government spokesperson said: “Suicide devastates families and we are unequivocal about the responsibilities online services have to keep people safe on their platforms.
“Under the Online Safety Act, services must take action to prevent users from accessing illegal suicide and self-harm content and ensure children are protected from harmful content that promotes it.
“If they fail to do so, they can expect to face robust enforcement, including substantial fines.”
They added that the position is “closely monitored and reportable under the Poisons Act, meaning retailers must alert authorities if they suspect it is being bought to cause harm”.
“We will continue to keep dangerous substances under review to ensure the right safeguards are in place,” they said.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK.