Keir Starmer removes Labour whip from four ‘persistent rebel’ MPs

It is the second time Keir Starmer has enforced severe discipline on MPs who vote against his government. Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

Keir Starmer has fired a warning shot to rebellious Labour MPs and moved to reassert his grip on his party by removing the whip from four backbenchers for repeatedly breaching discipline.

Labour MPs Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff were told they had lost the party whip on Wednesday afternoon for repeatedly rebelling against the government.