Keir Starmer has unleashed a furious ‘night of the long knives’ this afternoon, sacking multiple MPs ahead of the summer recess over their breaches of party discipline. Four Labour MPs have been suspended from the parliamentary party, with one Labour source accusing them of “persistent k***headery” in The Times.

The names are Neil Duncan-Jordan (Poole), Brian Leishman (Alloa and Grangemouth), Rachael Maskell (York Central) and Chris Hinchliff (North East Hertfordshire), all of whom have rebelled on welfare cuts over the past year. Three of the known suspensions are from the most recent 2024 intake, suggesting the Prime Minister wants to deliver a stark warning to other potential rebels ahead of their return after the summer.

It is understood that the four MPs met with the Chief Whip today and were told the Labour whip would be suspended due to repeated breaches of Party discipline, pending a future review.

Responding to his suspension, Mr Leishman said: “I am a proud Labour member, and I remain committed to the party. I wish to remain a Labour MP and deliver the positive change many voters are craving.

“I have voted against the Government on issues because I want to effectively represent and be the voice for communities across Alloa and Grangemouth. I firmly believe that it is not my duty as an MP to make people poorer, especially those that have suffered because of austerity and its dire consequences.”

Mr Duncan-Jordan said: “Since being elected I have consistently spoken up for my constituents on a range of issues, including most recently on cuts to disability benefits. I understood this could come at a cost, but I couldn’t support making disabled people poorer.

“Although I’ve been suspended from the Parliamentary Labour Party today, I’ve been part of the Labour and trade union movement for 40 years and remain as committed as ever to its values.”

Rachael Maskell was one of the organisers of the PIP rebellion and also campaigned against cuts to Winter Fuel Payments.

In addition, three other Labour MPs have had trade envoy roles removed, also apparently as a punishment for failing to toe the line. They are Tooting MP Rosena Allin Khan, Clapham and Brixton Hill MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Bedford MP Mohammed Yasin.

It’s a high-stakes gamble for Sir Keir, given fears that more left-wing Labour rebels may be tempted to join Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana’s new breakaway party.

A new poll this week suggested that when included as an option, Mr Corbyn’s new party is already neck-and-neck with Labour.

Find Out Now asked 650 Britons who they would vote for, and discovered the Corbyn-Sultana party already winning over 15% backing, level pegging with Sir Keir Starmer.

It was reported earlier this month that the Prime Minister wanted to suspend numerous MPs involved in the major welfare cuts rebellion, which forced him and Rachel Reeves to back down over proposed changes to PIP eligibility.

A total of 47 Labour MPs rebelled on the crunch vote, the largest rebellion of his first year in office and the sixth largest rebellion in the history of Labour governments.

If all four sackings are confirmed, it will bring Labour’s overall seat count down from 412 at the election to 399.

Labour and government spokesmen have been approached for comment.

A Conservative source said: “If Keir Starmer is now sacking MPs for ‘persistent k***headery’ he’s going to need a cabinet reshuffle”