By Home Correspondent
London, (The Muslim News): In a surprising turn of events, the five newly elected Independent MPs have rallied behind seven Labour MPs who were suspended for six months following their vote to amend the controversial two-child benefit cap.
The amendment, which aimed to abolish the cap, was backed by the SNP, and supported by 21 MPs, including Green Party members, Plaid Cymru representatives, and three independents—among them former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Despite this support, the amendment was defeated by a wide margin: 363 votes to 103.
Introduced in 2017, the two-child benefit cap restricts parents from claiming Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit for more than their first two children, with a few exceptions. This policy affects approximately 1.6 million children by limiting welfare payments and has been heavily criticized by charities and unions for exacerbating child poverty.
The suspension of prominent Labour figures—former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain, Rebecca Long-Bailey, and Zarah Sultana—has caused a stir within the party.
Their expulsion has drawn sharp criticism from Labour and Independent parliamentarians. Independent MPs, including Corbyn, Ayoub Khan, Iqbal Mohamed, Adnan Hussain, and Shockat Adam, who all defeated Labour candidates in the recent elections, have denounced the decision. They called it “beyond disgraceful” to punish MPs for their stance against child poverty.
“We look forward to working closely with you as you represent your constituents more effectively than ever as Independent Members of Parliament,” the Independent MPs stated.
“As the two major parties fail to defend the bold changes this country desperately needs, we will be there to offer a real alternative—and to defend a society that cares for each other.”
This dramatic decision followed intense negotiations by party whips aimed at curbing the rebellion and discouraging support for the SNP’s amendment. The policy, criticized by child poverty advocates, has become a flashpoint for internal Labour conflicts.
Defiant Zarah Sultana, expressed no regrets to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, “I slept well knowing that I took a stand against child poverty that is affecting 4.3 million people in this country. It is the right thing to do, and I’m glad I did it.”
Sultana also highlighted the need for upcoming legislative changes, including rail nationalization and improved worker deals. She argued that “when anti-charity campaigners, think tanks, and trade unions point out that the key driver for child poverty in this country—the sixth largest economy in the world—is the Tories’ two-child benefit cap, it’s a moral imperative for the Labour Party to abolish it.”
Before the vote, McDonnell had stated, “I don’t like voting for other parties’ amendments but I’m following Keir Starmer’s example as he said put country before party.”
Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East, who did not vote for the amendment but has supported its abolition in the past, criticized the government’s disciplinary approach. “The government’s approach to party discipline has been appalling. No MP should have lost the whip for their vote this evening, especially on a policy that almost everyone in Labour opposes.”
Whittome further commented, “Our party has a huge majority. If it is to govern from a position of strength, it should be able to tolerate disagreement without making threats and employing the most severe punishments.” She warned that such tactics could undermine effective governance by stifling necessary debate.
Salford MP Rebecca Long-Bailey defended her decision to support the amendment, citing severe child poverty in her constituency. “As an MP in Salford, where 44.7% of children live in poverty, I urged the Government in the King’s Speech debate to scrap the two-child limit on Universal Credit. This is something many struggling families have raised with me and something every child poverty expert has called for.”
Long-Bailey expressed disappointment over her suspension, emphasizing her commitment to her constituents. “I am deeply saddened to have had the whip suspended for six months. As a matter of conscience, I felt I must speak for my constituents who have no voice, hoping the Government will urgently address this issue.”
The vote has intensified tensions among backbenchers. Some who support the policy change are frustrated, believing that the rebellion will complicate future negotiations and potentially alienate new MPs. One MP criticized the approach as excessively punitive and lacking in genuine dialogue.
In response to the dissent, Keir Starmer has suggested he might reconsider the cap, a policy previously deemed unaffordable. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson revealed that removing the cap is part of a broader review into child poverty measures.
Siân Berry of the Green Party praised the ability of Green MPs to vote with their conscience, stating, “This continued poverty is a political choice for this Government. We will continue to demand better from Labour.”
While support for removing the cap is predominantly from the left of the Labour Party, there is broader backing across the party. Rosie Duffield, the MP for Canterbury, expressed frustration over not being able to vote due to a positive Covid test. Kim Johnson, who voted with the government for unity, had previously proposed her own amendment that was not selected. She emphasized the urgency of addressing child poverty, asserting, “It is not a question of whether we can afford to adopt vital policies to alleviate child poverty, such as lifting the two-child cap; it is a question of whether we can afford not to.”
Duffield and other Labour MPs remain determined to push the government to remove the cap, aligning with Labour’s strategy to address child poverty. Support for removing the cap spans multiple parties, including the SNP, Liberal Democrats, Greens, and Reform. Kirsty Blackman of the SNP condemned the “rape clause” that forces women to prove the circumstances of their third child’s conception to receive additional benefits. “Even if the government is unwilling to move on the two-child cap, they should address the degrading requirements of the rape clause,” she told the House.
Some 42 other Labour MPs did not vote on the amendment.
[Photo: For voting to scrap the two-child benefit cap, Apsana Begum, Imran Hussain, Ian Byrne (left column), John McDonnell (right column), Zarah Sultana, Richard Burgon, and Rebecca Long Bailey have all been suspended from the Labour Party for 6 months. (Photo credit: UK Parliament)]
