JohnLeeds East MP Richard Burgon is among seven MPs suspended from the Labour Party in response to an early rebellion supporting an amendment to scrap the two-child benefit limit.
The decision came after hours of hardline negotiations from party whips, which broadly contained the planned rebellion to back a Scottish National Party amendment to end a policy that has been widely criticised by child poverty charities and campaigners.
In a statement on social media, Mr Burgon said: “I’m disappointed by the decision to suspend the whip over my vote tonight on the two-child cap.
“As I said in my King’s Speech response, I am excited by so many of our new Labour government’s plans and I welcomed the announcement of a Child Poverty Task Force and Unit.
“But as an MP in an area where 45% of children live in poverty, one of the highest in the country, I simply believe that this strategy must include scrapping this measure. That’s something that many struggling families in my area have raised with me.
“Every child poverty expert says this is a key way of lifting children out of poverty and I encourage the new Government to come forward with a plan on this, alongside its other initiatives, as so many other figures across the Labour Party and our wider trade union movement have called for.”
