Keir Starmer defiant on Labour MP suspensions over two-child benefit cap as Zarah Sultana speaks out – live

But a political spokesperson from Downing Street confirmed today that the action had been taken “ because they rebelled against the King’s speech – the party’s programme for government – which is a serious matter.”

The spokesperson denied that the move would set a precedent for all rebellions and Downing Street confirmed that lifting the cap is something a review into child poverty will be able to consider.

Read the full report from out political editor David Maddox:

Our political correspondent Archie Mitchell has the full story:

Sir Keir Starmer said he will not apologise for his plans to impose VAT on private schools, after he was challenged on the proposal during his first Prime Minister’s Questions.

As he defended the policy, the Prime Minister argued that every parent has aspirations for their children no matter which school they go to.

It came in response to Liberal Democrat MP Christine Jardine, who claimed state schools in her constituency of Edinburgh West would be put under pressure by the proposal.

Sir Keir said: “I do obviously understand the aspiration that parents who work hard and save hard have for their children that they send to private school.

“But every parent has that aspiration, whichever school they go to.

“And I am determined that we will have the right teachers in place in our state secondary schools to ensure that every child, wherever they come from, whatever their background, has the same opportunity, and I do not apologise for that.”

Rebecca Long-Bailey has broken her silence after being suspended by Sir Keir Starmer for rebelling on the two-child benefit cap.

The Labour MP for Salford said she voted for the amendment to “lift hundreds of thousands of children across the country out of poverty”.

Despite rebelling against her party, she vowed to support the King’s Speech and the government pledges to create breakfast clubs and a new child poverty task force.

In a statement, the former shadow minister said: “As an MP in Salford, where 44.7% of children live in poverty with some wards closer to 60%, I urged the Government in the King’s Speech debate to scrap the two-child limit on Universal Credit.

“I support the King’s Speech and support the government pledges to roll out breakfast clubs and to instigate a child poverty task force. I am gravely concerned however that this will take considerable time to pass through the relevant stages of consultation and indeed into final legislation.

“That’s why I voted in favor scrapping the two-child limit.”

She added: “I am deeply saddened to have had the whip suspended for six months. As a strict matter of conscience, on this occasion I felt I must speak for my constituents who have no voice in the hope that the government urgently helps them on this issue. I will continue to work with the government and colleagues to help the constituents I represent.”

Apsana Begum has accused the Labour Party of offering her support on domestic abuse violence if she voted with Sir Keir Starmer to back the two-child benefit bill.

The MP for Poplar and Limehouse claimed she was left “shocked” by the way she was treated by her party.

Speaking on Sky News: “That is unacceptable. That demonstrates I think the way in which that draconian stance was taken in regards to the scrapping of the two-child limit.”

Ms Begum added: “Many of my colleagues are quite surprised in the way in which the operations took place yesterday around the vote.

“I myself was quite shocked and surprised to see the way in which I was treated. I had a very difficult election. I had an election in which many people said to me ‘we are happy to support you as an individual but we find it very hard to support Labour at this time’. For a number of different reasons.

“But one of the reasons is that we don’t see a difference between the two main parties in parliament.

“I had to contend with that and with the fact I am a survivor of domestic abuse and coercive control, unfortunately I had my ex husband standing against me.”

Labour MP Emily Darlington urged Hilary Benn to “rebuild strained relations” with the European Union, warning that businesses in her local constituency have struggled to survive in the wake of Brexit.

The MP for Milton Keynes Central asked the secretary of state for Northern Ireland to engage with the Irish Government as part of an attempt to reduce barriers to trade.

Asked about his plans to repair relations with Europe, the Labour frontbencher admitted that Brexit had brought “additional costs and paperwork for businesses”.

But Mr Benn also defended the Windsor Framework, an agreement signed by the previous Conservative government to reduce trade barriers between Northern Ireland and the EU, dubbing it an “important and significant step forward”.

Our political correspondent Millie Cooke has the full story:

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed Eluned Morgan as Welsh Labour leader.

Ms Morgan has won support of almost all of Labour’s members in the Welsh parliament to replace Vaughan Gething.

Praising her candidacy, the PM said: “Eluned’s election as Welsh Labour leader and candidacy for first minister is fantastic news for Wales and for the Labour Party.

“Eluned brings with her a wealth of experience and a track record of delivery, and as the first woman to lead Welsh Labour, she is already making history.

“Just three weeks ago, people across Wales voted overwhelmingly for a changed Labour Party to lead a Government in Westminster.

“We have a been given a strong mandate to deliver change for working people, and I look forward to working hand-in-hand with Eluned to deliver on our promises to Wales and Britain.”