Starmer is cracking the whip on the rebels – about time too

Keir Starmer has acted against the most self-indulgent of his rebel MPs, suspending four of them and sacking a further three from their non-jobs as trade envoys.

- JOHN RENTOUL CHIEF POLITICAL COMMENTATOR

The whip was cracked with deliberation, a week after 49 Labour MPs opposed the government over its attempt to reduce the rate of increase in disability benefits spending.

Starmer understands that no government with such a huge majority can afford to be pushed around by a minority faction. All Labour MPs were elected on a platform of moderation and fiscal responsibility. They owe their election to him - and to his efforts in opposition to reassure the voters that Labour can be trusted to manage the public finances.

Yes, one can deplore the macho locker-room language of an unnamed Labour source saying that the four have been punished for “persistent knobheadery”. But the anonymous loudmouth is essentially right that some MPs have been self-important in putting their ideology above the interests of the government and the country.

The hardcore rebels, meanwhile, have confirmed their lack of judgement. They thought there was safety in numbers. “They can’t sack us all,” one of them said, at a time when more than 100 MPs were threatening to vote against the government.

Some of them continued to think that, after Starmer was persuaded by Angela Rayner to take most of the savings out of the bill, which was still opposed by 49 Labour MPs.