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| Brian Leishman MP criticises Labour policies after suspension | Brian Leishman MP criticises Labour policies after suspension |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Brian Leishman is one of four MPs suspended by Labour | |
| Scottish MP Brian Leishman has said he cannot back policies that "make people poorer" after being suspended by Labour. | Scottish MP Brian Leishman has said he cannot back policies that "make people poorer" after being suspended by Labour. |
| The Alloa and Grangemouth representative has repeatedly criticised Sir Keir Starmer over the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery, welfare reforms and winter fuel payment cuts. | The Alloa and Grangemouth representative has repeatedly criticised Sir Keir Starmer over the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery, welfare reforms and winter fuel payment cuts. |
| He is one of four Labour MPs to have lost the party whip for breaching party discipline, meaning they will now sit as independents. | He is one of four Labour MPs to have lost the party whip for breaching party discipline, meaning they will now sit as independents. |
| Leishman said he remained committed to the party and signalled that he would seek to re-join the parliamentary group. | Leishman said he remained committed to the party and signalled that he would seek to re-join the parliamentary group. |
| The party is yet to comment on specific rule breaches, but it comes after 47 Labour MPs rebelled against the UK government's proposed cuts to welfare and forced ministers to gut the reforms of key proposals. | The party is yet to comment on specific rule breaches, but it comes after 47 Labour MPs rebelled against the UK government's proposed cuts to welfare and forced ministers to gut the reforms of key proposals. |
| All three of the suspended MPs voted against the government's welfare reform bill earlier this month. | All three of the suspended MPs voted against the government's welfare reform bill earlier this month. |
| In a statement, Leishman insisted he was a proud Labour member. | In a statement, Leishman insisted he was a proud Labour member. |
| "I wish to remain a Labour MP and deliver the positive change many voters are craving," the MP said. | "I wish to remain a Labour MP and deliver the positive change many voters are craving," the MP said. |
| "I have voted against the government on issues because I want to effectively represent and be the voice for communities across Alloa and Grangemouth. | "I have voted against the government on issues because I want to effectively represent and be the voice for communities across Alloa and Grangemouth. |
| "I firmly believe that it is not my duty as an MP to make people poorer, especially those that have suffered because of austerity and its dire consequences." | "I firmly believe that it is not my duty as an MP to make people poorer, especially those that have suffered because of austerity and its dire consequences." |
| The BBC understands MPs Neil Duncan-Jordan, Chris Hinchliff and Rachael Maskell have also had the Labour whip removed. | The BBC understands MPs Neil Duncan-Jordan, Chris Hinchliff and Rachael Maskell have also had the Labour whip removed. |
| Three other Labour MPs - Rosena Allin Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammed Yasin - have been stripped of their trade envoy roles. | Three other Labour MPs - Rosena Allin Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammed Yasin - have been stripped of their trade envoy roles. |
| Brian Leishman has criticised the government over the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery in his constituency | Brian Leishman has criticised the government over the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery in his constituency |
| Following a landslide victory north and south of the border at last year's general election, Scottish Labour's new cohort of MPs has remained largely loyal to the government - with Leishman the consistent exception. | Following a landslide victory north and south of the border at last year's general election, Scottish Labour's new cohort of MPs has remained largely loyal to the government - with Leishman the consistent exception. |
| He has hit out at the prime minister over the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery in his constituency, arguing more could be done to save more than 400 jobs. | He has hit out at the prime minister over the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery in his constituency, arguing more could be done to save more than 400 jobs. |
| And Leishman criticised the government's decision to cut winter fuel payments to millions of pensioners. | And Leishman criticised the government's decision to cut winter fuel payments to millions of pensioners. |
| He was also among the most vocal of a group of Scottish Labour MPs who joined a backbench rebellion against welfare reforms. | He was also among the most vocal of a group of Scottish Labour MPs who joined a backbench rebellion against welfare reforms. |
| Although many of the rebels backed down once the government made major concessions, Leishman remained in steadfast opposition to the watered-down bill and voted against it. | Although many of the rebels backed down once the government made major concessions, Leishman remained in steadfast opposition to the watered-down bill and voted against it. |
| Sir Keir Starmer faced a backbench rebellion over his government's welfare reforms | Sir Keir Starmer faced a backbench rebellion over his government's welfare reforms |
| Just hours before he was suspended, Leishman asked Sir Keir about Fife bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis at Prime Minister's Questions. | Just hours before he was suspended, Leishman asked Sir Keir about Fife bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis at Prime Minister's Questions. |
| After the Labour leader said he was working with English mayors to put in orders for zero-emissions buses in a bid to save the firm, Leishman posted on X to confirm that he was working with the UK government "to help save Scottish bus manufacturing". | After the Labour leader said he was working with English mayors to put in orders for zero-emissions buses in a bid to save the firm, Leishman posted on X to confirm that he was working with the UK government "to help save Scottish bus manufacturing". |
| The suspension of Leishman and others is the prime minister's latest attempt to tighten party discipline after his authority was undermined in the welfare vote. | The suspension of Leishman and others is the prime minister's latest attempt to tighten party discipline after his authority was undermined in the welfare vote. |
| Last year, he suspended seven MPs who voted against the government on a proposal to scrap the two-child benefit cap. | Last year, he suspended seven MPs who voted against the government on a proposal to scrap the two-child benefit cap. |
| SNP deputy Westminster leader Pete Wishart said: "It says it all that the only Labour MP who has dared stand up for Scotland has been suspended by Keir Starmer - simply because he refused to betray his constituents like every other Scottish Labour MP has done repeatedly." | SNP deputy Westminster leader Pete Wishart said: "It says it all that the only Labour MP who has dared stand up for Scotland has been suspended by Keir Starmer - simply because he refused to betray his constituents like every other Scottish Labour MP has done repeatedly." |