Sir Keir Starmer faced a backbench rebellion over the two-child benefit cap, resulting in the suspension of seven Labour MPs, including Corbynistas Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain, Rebecca Long-Bailey, John McDonnell, and Zarah Sultana, who voted to scrap the amendment. Ms. Sultana suggested she was subjected to a “macho virility test” and proudly supported the amendment’s removal. Despite 103 votes to abolish the welfare measure, 363 votes were in favor of keeping it, giving the prime minister a majority of 170. The issue is expected to continue, with Sir Keir facing questions on the benefit cap at Prime Minister’s Questions. Rishi Sunak will represent the opposition at PMQs, but the race to replace him has begun, with former home secretary James Cleverly announcing his candidacy.
Starmer to face Sunak in PMQs as suspended Labour MP says she is a victim of ‘macho virility test’ – live
Labour MP who had whip suspended over child-benefit cap breaks silence
Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox
Get our free View from Westminster email
Sir Keir Starmer suffered a backbench rebellion in a vote on the two-child benefit cap that saw him remove the hip of seven Labour MPs.
Corbynistas Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain, Rebecca Long-Bailey, John McDonnell and Zarah Sultana broke ranks and voted to scrap the amendment.
Ms Sultana, representing Coventry South, has suggested she was the victim of a “macho virility test” and she felt proud to back scrapping the amendment.
In total, there were 103 votes to abolish the welfare measure, and 363 to keep it, with the prime minister winning a majority of 170.
But the issue is unlikely to go away, with Sir Keir set to face a grilling on the benefit cap at Prime Minister’s Questions today.
Rishi Sunak will represent the opposition at PMQs but the race to replace him is on and last night former home secretary James Cleverly announced his candidacy in a video on social media. For updates on the Tory leadership race, click here.
Key Points
Show latest update 1721815136
Watch: Gasps in Commons as Yvette Cooper reveals true cost of Tory Rwanda deal
Gasps in Commons as Yvette Cooper reveals true cost of Tory Rwanda deal
Gasps were heard in the Commons as Yvette Cooper revealed the true cost of the Tory Rwanda deal. The home secretary revealed to MPs that the controversial deportation scheme cost Britain £700 million, despite only four volunteers being sent to Kigali. Addressing MPs on Tuesday (23 July), Ms Cooper branded the policy the “most shocking waste of taxpayer money I have ever seen”. The home secretary accused the previous Conservative government of creating an “asylum Hotel California”, where people arrived in the system but never left.
Salma Ouaguira24 July 2024 10:58
1721815115
Nigel Farage accuses Labour of trying to ‘bury illegal immigration’
Nigel Farage has accused Labour of attempting to “bury illegal immigration” as a subject for debate.
The MP for Clacton reacted on the wording used by the government when referring to migration.
The Home Office described people coming to the UK as “irregular migration”.
The Reform UK leader said: “We will not let them get away with it.”
Salma Ouaguira24 July 2024 10:58
1721814867
Private sector grows hitting 15-month high
Activity across the UK’s private sector grew this month with levels of new business hitting a 15-month high, painting a “welcoming picture for the new Government”, according to indicative new data.
The S&P Global flash UK composite purchasing managers’ index (PMI) reported a reading of 52.7 in July, up from 52.3 in June.
It came in slightly above the expectations of economists who had pencilled in a reading of 52.5 for the latest survey.
The flash figures are based on preliminary data. Any score below 50 indicates that activity is contracting, while any score above means its growing.
Salma Ouaguira24 July 2024 10:54
1721814477
Eluned Morgan set to become next Welsh Labour leader
Eluned Morgan is expected to be named the new leader of Welsh Labour and likely first minister of Wales on Wednesday.
She will replace Vaughan Gething, who announced his resignation last week after a torrid four months in office, featuring rows over donations and sacked ministers.
Baroness Morgan, 57, the current Welsh health minister, is the only contender to be the Welsh Labour Party’s new leader, with nominations closing at midday.
While she is expected to become party leader on Wednesday, she would need to be confirmed as first minister, requiring a vote in the Senedd.
The Welsh parliament is currently on recess until September, and it would need to be recalled for her to take over sooner.
When confirmed, she would become the first woman to lead the Welsh Government.
Welsh health minister Eluned Morgan (Welsh Government/PA)
Salma Ouaguira24 July 2024 10:47
1721813941
Who are the seven Labour MPs suspended by Keir Starmer?
Given his massive majority, the prime minister was able to comfortably see off the rebellion with the amendment failing by 363 votes to 103 – a majority of 260 for Labour.
Here are the seven Labour MPs that have been suspended by Sir Keir:
Salma Ouaguira24 July 2024 10:39
1721813537
Starmer urged to restore whip of suspended Labour MPs
The general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union called on Sir Keir Starmer to restore the whip to the seven MPs suspended over a Commons rebellion on the two-child benefit cap.
Matt Wrack said: “1.6 million children are affected by the two-child cap, and 300,000 children live in poverty as a result of it. The UK is a rich country with ample resources for everyone to live a decent life.
“The seven MPs who voted to scrap the cap spoke for millions of trade union members and many Labour Party members. Keir Starmer must restore the whip to them immediately.”
Salma Ouaguira24 July 2024 10:32
1721813428
Watch: James Cleverly pays tribute to parents in Tory leadership bid video
James Cleverly pays tribute to parents in Tory leadership bid video
James Cleverly paid tribute to his parents in a video announcing that he is running to be the next leader of the Conservative Party. The shadow home secretary recalled his childhood in south east London, and spoke of how his mother was a midwife in the NHS and his father started a small business. Mr Cleverly said the Conservatives needed to “re-establish our reputation as the party who, in government, helps grow the economy, helps people achieve their goals, their dreams, and their aspirations”. After losing the general election, Rishi Sunak said that he will step down as party leader once formal arrangements for selecting his successor are in place.
Salma Ouaguira24 July 2024 10:30
1721813409
Mapped: How did my MP vote on the two-child benefit cap?
More than 40 Labour MPs recorded no vote, with some of those listed spotted in the chamber throughout the day but then not voting, while others had permission to miss the vote.
The Independent has put together this map below, where readers can see how their MP voted on the amendment.
Salma Ouaguira24 July 2024 10:30
1721812828
Sunak scrapping HS2 will cost £100m and take up to three years, NAO
Rishi Sunak’s decision to slim down the high-speed rail link also means the government has £592m worth of land and property on the route from Birmingham to Manchester it needs to sell, which the government spending watchdog has warned could take years and distort local housing markets.
Salma Ouaguira24 July 2024 10:20
1721812228
In full: Bibby Stockholm barge to be scrapped as depth of financial chaos under Tories laid bare
Salma Ouaguira24 July 2024 10:10
Read the full story on www.independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/starmer-labour-pmq-mps-suspended-two-child-latest-news-b2585010.html