Seven Labour MPs have been suspended from the party for six months after they voted against the government on a motion to remove the two-child benefit cap.
Among the dissenters was former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, who joined the SNP in opposing the policy that restricts most parents from claiming Universal Credit or child tax credit for more than two children.
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The MPs who supported the SNP motion included Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Imran Hussain, Apsana Begum, and Zarah Sultana. The amendment was ultimately defeated by 363 votes to 103, marking a significant test for the new Labour government’s authority.
The two-child benefit cap, introduced by the Conservatives in 2017, does not apply to the weekly child benefit payments made for each child. The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that abolishing the cap would cost the government approximately £3.4 billion annually, representing about 3% of the budget for working-age benefits. Currently, around 1.6 million children live in families affected by this policy.
Despite a YouGov survey indicating that 60% of people support maintaining the cap, the MPs who voted against it will now sit as independents. Most of these MPs were allies of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who also supported the SNP motion.
Sultana told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that she was unaware she would lose the whip for her vote, but this knowledge wouldn’t have changed her decision. She emphasized the urgency of addressing child poverty over party politics.
Burgon expressed disappointment at his suspension, while Begum highlighted the cap’s role in exacerbating child poverty and food insecurity in her constituency. Byrne argued that removing the cap was the best way to support his constituents living in poverty.
McDonnell justified his vote by citing the current Labour leader Keir Starmer’s stance on prioritizing country over party.
However, Jonathan Ashworth, a former Labour shadow cabinet member, dismissed the vote as symbolic, suggesting that the government is already considering child poverty through a review.
The suspension of these MPs serves as an early demonstration of the new government’s resolve against dissent within the party. Many more Labour MPs are opposed to the cap and hope for a party decision to abolish it soon. The government, however, remains firm in not making “unfunded promises.”
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Starmer defended his commitment to tackling child poverty, citing the government’s new child poverty taskforce and plans for free breakfast clubs in primary schools. Five independent MPs, including Corbyn, expressed their support for the suspended MPs and their willingness to work together on issues of inequality.
Other Labour MPs, like Kim Johnson and Rosie Duffield, also sought to end the cap but didn’t vote. Diane Abbott, who abstained due to personal reasons, condemned the suspensions. Emma Lewell-Buck, who signed an amendment but did not vote, emphasized the upcoming Autumn Budget as a more strategic opportunity to address the issue.
Despite this internal conflict, Starmer successfully passed the King’s Speech, overcoming his government’s first significant challenge. Additionally, Labour defeated a Conservative amendment promoting Tory policies on defense, migration, and inflation by a large margin, and a Liberal Democrat amendment focusing on health, social care, sewage dumping, and electoral reform also failed to pass. Opposition parties typically try to amend the King’s Speech to prioritize their agendas, although success is rare.
