Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has suspended three Labour MPs over breaching party discipline.

The BBC understands Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff have had the party whip removed, meaning the MPs will sit as independents in the House of Commons.

Senior Labour sources have not ruled out further MPs, including from earlier parliamentary intakes, being suspended later today.

Duncan-Jordan, Leishman and Hinchliff were all elected as Labour MPs for the first time last year. The BBC has asked the three suspended MPs for comment.

The move comes after 47 Labour MPs rebelled against the government’s proposed cuts to welfare and forced ministers to water down their plans.

All three of the suspended MPs voted against the government’s welfare reform bill earlier this month.

The rebellion undermined Sir Keir’s authority, which was weakened after a series of policy reversals, such as restoring the winter fuel allowance to millions of pensioners.

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