Sir Keir Starmer has suspended at least three Labour MPs as he seeks to reassert his authority after a series of damaging backbench rebellions.
The MPs are thought to have lost the party whip over “persistent breaches of party discipline”, according to The Times.
The total number of MPs affected is expected to be confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.
The move comes as MPs depart Westminster for the summer early next week.
There was speculation that some Labour MPs could have been in talks to join a new party being set up by ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana.
The Independent understands that rebel leader Rachael Maskell, along with Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliffe, Neil Duncan-Jordan have been called in to see the chief whip over the recent revolt over welfare reforms. They are expected to have had the whip suspended.
More follows on this breaking news story…
