Labor suspension does not mean that I am silent, MP says

One of the four rebel MPs suspended by Labor to defy the party’s orders has said that it would not silence him – but he will continue to support the government as an independent.

Rachel Maskel told the BBC that he was expelled from the party in Parliament for his role in a rebellion against disability profit cuts, which forced Sir Kir Stmper to U-Turns on a major piece of law.

Maskail said that the welfare bill fell before an important Commons vote as the government did not listen to its backbenchers when reforms were being prepared.

Minister Jess Philips said that suspended MPs should not be surprised after their “continuous” revolts and government’s “slanging”.

On Wednesday, Labor withdrew the whip from four MPs – which means they would now sit as an independent in the House of Commons – and snatched three more roles as business messengers – unpaid jobs handed over to backbench MPS.

Maskail on Thursday told the BBC Radio 4 program that the Chief Whip had “very clear” that his work on the reforms of the disabled was “the reason for his suspension”.

The MP for York Central said that she was not a “ringalder” of a rebellion, but she sought a “lawyer” for her components, including disabled people who are “very invisible in our society”.

Now sitting as an independent, she said that she can “do everything that I can support the Labor Government”.

“But this does not mean that I am silent,” he told the BBC Breakfast, saying that he did not believe that the Prime Minister “it was right”.

“If my constituents are telling me something, I want to be able to advocate,” she said.

The welfare bill broke because the backbencher was not heard in the initial stages, he said, and it would have to change “because the backbenchers eventually bring a huge experience with them”.

But Labor Minister Philips said that, from what she can see, “This is nothing with someone who votes against a particular bill”.

The ministers were forced to reduce their plans after 47 Labor MPs rebelled against the government’s proposed cuts, but only four were suspended.

Instead the suspension was “constantly going to the airway, closing his own government,” he said.

He also rejected the idea that MPs could not worry with the government.

Philips told BBC Breakfast, “There is no reason that people cannot speak about things that they care, but we have to work as a team.”

This further reduced the Prime Minister’s authority after a series of policy reversal, which includes restoring winter fuel allowance to millions of pensioners.

A senior labor MP said that the suspension had left some backbenchers in a “shock situation”.

Tobby Perkins told the BBC Radio 4 of The World late on Wednesday: “There are many colleagues who voted against the (welfare) law who are wondering if they are going to ring the phone.”

While he said that some MPs will now “think very carefully” before voting against the government, he would think that there would be others “who feel that it is an exaggeration.”

Other MPs were suspended on Wednesday – Neil Duncan – Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hanchalifen – were all selected to the House of Commons for the first time in 2024.

Duncan-Jordan, MP for Poole, organized a letter, in which it was impossible to support the government’s welfare changes without “the change of direction”.

After his suspension, he said that he was committed to the values of the labor and it was “normally normal” for his components.

Aloea and Granjmouth MP Lishman said in a statement that he wished to remain a Labor MP and said: “I strongly believe that it is not my duty as an MP to make people poor, especially those who suffer from penance and its serious consequences.”

Hartfordshire MP Hartfordshire MP Hartfordshire said that he expects to return to the labor bench and “will continue to fight every day for the needs of my components”.

Three other Labor MPs – Roasena Elin Khan, Bell Reibero -AD and Mohammad Yasin – were taken away from their roles as business messengers.