UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer removed the Labour whip from four MPs on 16 July, saying they had shown “persistent breaches of discipline” and would now sit as independents pending a formal inquiry. The suspended members—Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff—were prominent organisers of last week’s revolt against the government’s disability-benefit bill. Although ministers watered down the legislation, the four still opposed it, helping swell a 47-strong rebellion that forced a policy climb-down. Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said the action was prompted not only by the welfare vote but by the MPs’ frequent public criticism of their own government, arguing that collective responsibility is vital to delivering Labour’s programme after last year’s landslide win. In a parallel move, backbenchers Rosena Allin-Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammad Yasin lost their unpaid trade-envoy roles for the same pattern of dissent. Labour has also reopened an investigation into veteran MP Diane Abbott after she reiterated 2023 remarks deemed antisemitic, signalling a broader crackdown on internal dissent. Supporters of the suspensions say they will deter future revolts on forthcoming legislation covering special-needs education and immigration. Detractors warn the crackdown looks “petty and vindictive” and risks deepening party divisions as Parliament heads into its summer recess.