UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will face his first Prime Minister’s Questions session on Wednesday, following the suspension of seven Labour MPs for rebelling against the government’s controversial two-child limit on benefits.
The MPs, including former finance spokesman John McDonnell, were suspended for backing a motion to remove the cap, introduced by the previous Conservative government in 2015.
The vote is seen as an early test of Starmer’s authority, who has warned of “no silver bullet” to ending child poverty but acknowledged the “passion” of MPs opposing the policy.
Over 40 Labour lawmakers recorded no vote, highlighting the level of unease within the party at the measure. Liverpool MP Kim Johnson said she voted with the government “for unity” but warned of “undeniable” strength of feeling within the party.
The SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said Labour had “failed its first major test in government” by choosing not to “deliver meaningful change from years of Tory misrule”.
The government secured a majority of 260, with 363 MPs voting to reject the SNP amendment to scrap the cap.
Starmer’s decision to suspend the rebels is seen as a show of ruthlessness from his new administration, which took power after a landslide victory in the July 4 general election.
