Nick Brown, the former Labour Party chief whip, is to step down before the next election after he was suspended over an undisclosed complaint.
Confirming that he wouldn’t be seeking re-election, the MP for Newcastle upon Tyne East said: “My decision to stand down is made against the backdrop of a long-running internal Labour Party disciplinary process against me – a process which I consider (and am advised) is so fundamentally, and inexcusably, flawed that I can no longer engage with it.”
The veteran politician, elected in 1983, had the Labour whip removed last year. Details about the complaint against Brown have never been disclosed; however, he has maintained the allegations were “entirely false, without even the faintest germ of any truth to them".
Just over a month ago, Imran Hussain, Labour MP for Bradford East, confirmed he was resigning as shadow levelling up minister.
Several councillors also stepped down in October in protest over Sir Keir's stance on the Israel-Hamas war.
Let's take a look at all the Labour MP resignations and suspensions that have happened this year:
Diane Abbott – suspended
In April 2023, the Labour Party had its first high-profile shakeup of the year when the whip was suspended from Diane Abbott.
Her suspension came after she wrote an article in the Observer that suggested that Jewish, Irish, and Traveller people are not subject to racism “all their lives”.
Although she later apologised, the party suspended the whip, with a spokesperson confirming: “The Labour Party completely condemns these comments, which are deeply offensive and wrong.
“The chief whip has suspended the Labour whip from Diane Abbott pending an investigation.”
Geraint Davies – suspended
In June 2023, longstanding Labour MP Geraint Davies was suspended from the party following allegations of sexual harassment.
At the time, Mr Davies said he didn't “recognise” the allegations and apologised if he "inadvertently caused offence to anyone".
He has since stood as an independent.
Bambos Charalambous – suspended
In June 2023, Labour shadow minister Bambos Charalambous had the whip suspended after a formal complaint was made against him.
He also stood down from his frontbench role at the time, where he was working in the shadow foreign affairs team.
Rosena Allin-Khan – resigned from the cabinet
In September, Rosena Allin-Khan resigned from the cabinet where she had served as shadow mental health minister.
Her resignation came after suggesting that the Labour Party "didn't see space" for her mental health initiatives.
Her resignation letter read: “You made clear that you do not see a space for a mental health portfolio in a Labour Cabinet, which is why I told you many weeks ago that I would not be able to continue in this role."
Andy McDonald – suspended
Labour MP Andy McDonald was suspended in October 2023 following comments he made at a pro-Palestine rally.
In a clip of his speech that the MP shared on social media, he said: “We will not rest until we have justice. Until all people, Israelis, and Palestinians between the river and the sea can live in peaceful liberty.”
Home Secretary Suella Braverman previously branded the slogan antisemitic but pro-Palestinian protesters have contested this definition.
Meanwhile, a Labour spokesperson for the party said: “The comments made by Andy McDonald at the weekend were deeply offensive, particularly at a time of rising antisemitism which has left Jewish people fearful for their safety.
“The chief whip has suspended the Labour whip from Andy McDonald, pending an investigation.”
Imran Hussain – resigned from the cabinet
Imran Hussain, the Labour MP for Bradford East, resigned from Sir Keir's shadow cabinet.
He has represented Bradford East as an MP since 2015 and also served as the shadow minister for the future of work before announcing his departure from the position of shadow levelling up minister.
In a letter to Sir Keir, Mr Hussein confirmed that he was stepping down from the frontbench over concerns about the Labour leader's stance on Gaza.
“Over recent weeks, it has become clear that my view on the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza differs substantially from the position you have adopted,” Mr Hussain wrote in his resignation.
A ceasefire is essential to ending the bloodshed, to ensuring that enough aid can pass into Gaza and reach those most in need, and to help ensure the safe return of the Israeli hostages
So far, Sir Keir appears to be backing a "humanitarian pause" instead of total ceasefire.
Mr Hussain explained that he was also "deeply troubled" by Sir Keir's LBC interview, in which the leader implied that Israel had the right to withhold water and power from Palestinian people in Gaza.
