Whip restored to rebel Labour MPs after six-months - but three remain suspended

Four Labour MPs who were suspended for rebelling over the two-child benefit cap have had the whip restored, Sky News understands.

Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain and Rebecca Long-Bailey are now back in the Labour Party after sitting as independents for six months.

However, three others who had rebelled remain suspended from the parliamentary party with their position to be reviewed again in the future.

This includes former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, and left-wing backbenchers Apsana Begum and Zarah Sultana.

It is not clear why these three remain suspended.

The seven MPs lost the whip in July 2024 after they backed an SNP amendment to the King's Speech to scrap the two-child benefit limit.

At the time of their suspension, Labour said the decision would be reviewed in six months.

Speaking to Sky News's Politics Hub with Sophy Ridge last week, Mr McDonnell had said: "I've served my six month sentence, I'm just waiting to see what happens."

The two-child benefit cap prevents parents from claiming Universal Credit or a child tax credit for a third child, with a few exceptions.

The measure was introduced by former Tory Chancellor George Osborne in 2017 and has since been blamed for rising levels of child poverty in the UK.

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