5 h. ago Starmer hits back at ‘rattled’ accusation over Labour MP suspensions

Sir Keir Starmer rejected comparisons to Sir Tony Blair when grilled over the suspension of Labour MPs due to their opposition of welfare cuts.

Events

5 h. ago Merz says he ‘deplores deeply’ UK’s decision to leave EU after signing UK

UK PM and German chancellor answered media questions after signing first treaty between two countries since second world warWhile Rushanara Ali is answering the urgent question in the Commons, Keir Starmer is speaking at the event where he is announcing a “civil society covenant”.There is a live feed here.Why does this government think a 16-year-old can vote but not be allowed to buy a lottery ticket or an alcoholic drink, marry or go to war, or even stand in the elections they’re voting? It isn’t the government’s position on the age of maturity just hopelessly confused? Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Starmer says coalition of willing plan for peacekeeping force for Ukraine includes troops on ground – UK politics live

UK PM and German chancellor answered media questions after signing first treaty between two countries since second world warWhile Rushanara Ali is answering the urgent question in the Commons, Keir Starmer is speaking at the event where he is announcing a “civil society covenant”.There is a live feed here.Why does this government think a 16-year-old can vote but not be allowed to buy a lottery ticket or an alcoholic drink, marry or go to war, or even stand in the elections they’re voting? It isn’t the government’s position on the age of maturity just hopelessly confused? Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Labour infighting rages as Starmer warns his troops they MUST obey orders after suspending whip from four 'kn**head' MPs in wake of welfare meltdown

Keir Starmer has moved to suspend the whip from four MPs, and fired three more from trade envoy roles, in the wake of the humiliating welfare revolt.

Events

8 h. ago Starmer defends lowering voting age to 16, saying people old enough to pay tax should have a say – UK politics live

Plan to give 16 and 17-year-olds vote across UK means nearly 1.5 million more people will be to have say at general electionWhile Rushanara Ali is answering the urgent question in the Commons, Keir Starmer is speaking at the event where he is announcing a “civil society covenant”.There is a live feed here.Why does this government think a 16-year-old can vote but not be allowed to buy a lottery ticket or an alcoholic drink, marry or go to war, or even stand in the elections they’re voting? It isn’t the government’s position on the age of maturity just hopelessly confused? Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Voices: Are suspended Labour MPs undisciplined? Readers have their say

Our community was sharply divided on the suspensions. While some defended Keir Starmer’s need for party discipline in government, others felt his approach revealed a weakness

Politics

11 h. ago Labour minister Jess Phillips says rebel MPs right to be punished for ‘slagging off own government’

Comes as Keir Starmer’s attempt to impose discipline on party faces fresh challenge from Diane Abbott

Politics

12 h. ago Voices: Keir Starmer has asserted his power by suspending the Labour rebels – about time, too

The prime minister has cracked down on ‘persistent knobheadery’ in his party, as one source put it – he’s finally shown true grit, writes John Rentoul

Politics

13 h. ago Labour rebels warn Starmer has made things worse by suspending whip from four 'kn**head' MPs and stripping three others of jobs after welfare meltdown

Keir Starmer moved to suspend the whip from four MPs, and fired three more from trade envoy roles, in the wake of the humiliating welfare revolt.

Events

13 h. ago Jess Phillips says Labour rebels should not be surprised by the action taken against them – UK politics live

Home Office minister defends Keir Starmer’s decision to remove whip from four MPs and says Labour must ‘act as a team’Good morning. Chief whips tends to be quite secretive, and when four Labour MPs had the whip suspended yesterday, there was no detailed, public explanation as to why they were being punished for rebelling when so many other backbenchers, who have also voted against the party, have not been singled out. As Eleni Courea and Jessica Elgot report in our overnight story, we were just told they were regular rebels.But the best explanation came from the Labour party source who told Geri Scott from the Times that the four MPs – Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff – were being punished for “persistent knobheadery”.I don’t think that the discipline that has been meted out over the last 24 hours is linked to [the welfare bill] because many more people voted against the government than these four people.I actually don’t know because I’m not pa...

Politics

15 h. ago Keir Starmer's suspension of four Labour rebel MPs leaves backbenchers 'in state of shock'

Four Labour MPs have been stripped of the Labour party whip and three others were removed as trade envoys

Events

25 h. ago Suspended Labour MP ‘can’t promise’ Starmer he won’t rebel again

Suspended Labour MP Brian Leishman was defiant in his promise that he could not guarantee he would rebel again

Economics

30 h. ago Keir Starmer removes Labour whip from four ‘persistent rebel’ MPs

Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff pushed out and three trade envoys lose rolesUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has removed the Labour whip from four MPs for repeatedly breaching discipline and stripped three further Labour MPs of their trade envoy roles in an effort to assert his control over the party.The Guardian understands that the four MPs who have lost the whip are Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff. They were informed on Wednesday afternoon and told their positions would be kept under review. Continue reading...

Politics

30 h. ago Starmer kicks out Labour's welfare rebels: PM sets up major clash with party as hardline anti

Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff and Neil Duncan-Jordan, who have all been in the Commons less than a year, are reported to have been disciplined for 'persistent breaches of party discipline'.

Politics

30 h. ago Keir Starmer suspends four Labour MPs over 'persistent breaches of party discipline'

At least four Labour MPs have been stripped of the Labour party whip over ‘persistent breaches of party discipline’

Politics

31 h. ago Keir Starmer to remove Labour whip from at least four ‘persistent rebel’ MPs

Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff to be pushed out as PM takes actionUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer is to remove the whip from MPs for persistent rebellions, starting with at least four of them on Wednesday afternoon.The Guardian understands that four MPs set to lose the whip are Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman, and Chris Hinchliff. Continue reading...

Politics

31 h. ago Keir Starmer suspends Labour rebels after repeated backbench revolts

Labour prime minister seeks to reassert his authority

Politics

31 h. ago Labour MPs suspended by Keir Starmer over 'persistent breaches of party discipline'

At least three Labour MPs are reportedly being stripped of the Labour party whip over ‘persistent breaches of party discipline’

Politics

31 h. ago Keir Starmer to remove Labour whip from at least three ‘persistent rebel’ MPs

Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff to be pushed out as PM takes actionKeir Starmer is to remove the whip from MPs for persistent rebellions, starting with at least three of them on Wednesday afternoon.The Guardian understands that one of the MPs who has had the whip removed is Neil Duncan-Jordan, the MP for Poole, who was a critic of both the welfare bill and cuts to the winter fuel allowance. Continue reading...

Politics

35 h. ago PIP applicants issued key advice by former DWP assessor after cut 'delays'

Keir Starmer was forced to delete the entire PIP section from the welfare bill due to a Labour rebellion as claimants have been left unclear and 'confused' about the future of the scheme

Politics