BREAKING: Keir Starmer suspends 'at least three Labour MPs over discipline breaches'

Keir Starmer has reportedly suspended at least three rebel Labour MPs over “persistent breaches of party discipline”.

Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff and Neil Duncan-Jordan - all elected just last year - were among the MPs named. It means they will now sit as Independents in the House of Commons.

All three were among dozens to vote against the government earlier this month on disability benefit cuts - plans now abandoned after a massive revolt. A source told The Times the reason was for “persistent breaches of party discipline”.

They also denied the suspensions related to MPs being involved in a new left-wing party, which is being formed by Jeremy Corbyn and former Labour MP Zara Sultana. There were suggestions other MPs could also lose the whip today.

Mr Duncan-Jordan, the MP for Poole, was among 42 Labour MPs to sign a letter earlier this year warning the PM cuts to disability benefits were "impossible to support".

He was also critical of the cuts to winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners before a major government U-turn last month.

He told The Mirror today: "Since being elected I have consistently spoken up for my constituents on a range of issues, including most recently on cuts to disability benefits. 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, 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."

Labour has not responded to requests for comment.

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