"Ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell has been readmitted as a Labour MP alongside Apsana Bagum, after a year-long ban for voting against the government on the two-child benefit cap. They were among seven left-wing MPs who, days after Labour's 2024 landslide, backed an SNP motion to scrap the cap - which prevents almost all parents from claiming Universal Credit or child tax credit for more than two children."
"The two-child cap, introduced under the Conservatives, prevents households on universal or child tax credit from receiving payments for a third or subsequent child born after April 2017. After winning the 2024 general election, Labour said it was not prepared to make "unfunded promises" by abolishing the cap. The Resolution Foundation think tank says axing the policy would cost 3.5bn and would lift 470,000 children out of poverty."
"Their return to Labour comes seven months after the whip was returned to Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain and Rebecca Long-Bailey for their rebellion. Although the government won the vote comfortably, it marked the first Commons rebellion of Sir Keir Starmer's premiership. Some MPs on the right of the Labour Party had been pushing for McDonnell - a long-time ally of Corbyn - to be expelled from the parliamentary party on a more permanent basis."
John McDonnell and Apsana Bagum have been readmitted to the Labour parliamentary party after a year-long suspension for voting against the government on the two-child benefit cap. They were among seven left-wing MPs who supported an SNP motion to scrap the cap, which limits Universal Credit and child tax credit payments to two children. Six of the seven have now rejoined Labour; Zarah Sultana resigned to form a new party with Jeremy Corbyn. Labour has not explained the restorations. Labour previously said it would not abolish the cap without funding. The Resolution Foundation estimates abolition would cost £3.5bn and lift 470,000 children out of poverty.
Read at www.bbc.com
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