Brian Leishman criticises Labour policies after suspension

Scottish MP Brian Leishman has said he cannot back policies that “make people poorer” after being suspended by Labour.

The Alloa and Grangemouth representative has repeatedly criticised Sir Keir Starmer over the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery, welfare reforms and winter fuel payment cuts.

Leishman is one of three Labour MPs – alongside Neil Duncan-Jordan and Chris Hinchliff – to have lost the party whip for breaching party discipline, meaning they will now sit as independents.

Leishman said he remained committed to the party and would seek to re-join the parliamentary group.

The party is yet to comment on specific rule breaches, but it comes after 47 Labour MPs rebelled against the UK government’s proposed cuts to welfare and forced ministers to gut the reforms of key proposals.

All three of the suspended MPs voted against the government’s welfare reform bill earlier this month.

In a statement, Leishman insisted he was a proud Labour member and remained committed to the party.

“I wish to remain a Labour MP and deliver the positive change many voters are craving,” the MP said.

“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.”

Senior Labour sources have not ruled out more MPs being suspended.

Following a landslide victory north and south of the border at last year’s general election, Scottish Labour’s new cohort of MPs has remained largely loyal to the government – with Leishman the consistent exception.

He has hit out at the prime minister over the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery in his constituency, arguing more could be done to save more than 400 jobs.

And Leishman criticised the government’s decision to cut winter fuel payments to millions of pensioners.

He was also among the most vocal of a group of Scottish Labour MPs who joined a backbench rebellion against welfare reforms.

Although many of the rebels backed down once the government made major concessions, Leishman remained in steadfast opposition to the watered-down bill and voted against it.

SNP deputy Westminster leader Pete Wishart said: “It says it all that the only Labour MP who has dared stand up for Scotland has been suspended by Keir Starmer – simply because he refused to betray his constituents like every other Scottish Labour MP has done repeatedly.”