Sir Keir Starmer has taken the significant disciplinary step of suspending the Labour whip from one of his own MPs following a rebellion during a crucial Budget vote.
MP Defies Party Over Farming Tax
The dramatic move came after Markus Campbell-Savours, the Labour MP for Penrith and Solway, voted against the government's financial plans on Tuesday night, 3 December 2025. The key point of contention was a proposal to impose inheritance tax on farmers, a measure the MP argued would severely impact his rural constituency.
Addressing the House of Commons, Campbell-Savours stated he felt compelled to act in the interests of his community. He issued a stark warning that the proposed tax changes would leave numerous farming families "devastated at the impact on their family farms." He emphasised his duty to do everything possible for the people he represents.
Swift Disciplinary Action
In response to this breach of party discipline, Labour's Chief Whip informed the MP that the party whip had been removed. This suspension means Campbell-Savours will no longer sit as a Labour MP in the Commons, effectively ejecting him from the parliamentary party unless the whip is restored at a later date.
The decision underscores Sir Keir Starmer's leadership style and his insistence on maintaining party unity, particularly on high-stakes fiscal votes. Rebellions on Budget matters are viewed as particularly serious breaches of collective responsibility.
Broader Political Implications
This incident highlights the ongoing tension between party loyalty and constituency representation, especially for MPs serving areas with dominant local industries. The Penrith and Solway constituency, covering a large part of Cumbria, has a significant agricultural economy, placing its MP in a difficult position when national policy clashes with local interests.
The suspension is a clear signal to the rest of the Parliamentary Labour Party about the consequences of defying the leadership on key government business. It remains to be seen whether this will be a temporary measure or a more permanent expulsion, pending discussions between the MP and the party whips.
