John McDonnell and Apsana Begum, two prominent Labour MPs, have had the party whip restored just in time for Labour’s annual conference in Liverpool, marking a significant development in the party’s ongoing debate over welfare reform and internal discipline. The decision, made on Friday, September 26, 2025, follows more than a year of suspension for both MPs, who lost the whip in July 2024 after rebelling against party orders to support an SNP motion calling for the abolition of the controversial two-child benefit cap.
The restoration of the whip came after discussions with Jonathan Reynolds, Labour’s chief whip, who was appointed earlier this month in a party reshuffle. According to The Guardian, McDonnell and Begum were among seven MPs originally suspended for their stance on the King’s speech amendment, which directly challenged the government’s welfare policy. Four of the other suspended MPs—Rebecca Long-Bailey, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain, and Richard Burgon—had their whip restored in February 2025, while the seventh, Zarah Sultana, left Labour to co-found a new left-wing party alongside former leader Jeremy Corbyn, who was re-elected as an independent in 2024.
The timing of the reinstatement is notable, coming just days before Labour’s annual conference, where the two-child benefit cap is expected to be a central issue. The cap, which limits welfare payments to the first two children in a family, has faced mounting opposition from within the party and beyond. Both Labour deputy leadership candidates have publicly opposed the policy, as has Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham. Calls to scrap the cap have also come from the Children’s Commissioner and members of the government’s child poverty taskforce, adding to the mounting pressure on ministers to act.
In a statement posted to social media, Begum expressed her determination to continue challenging the policy. "I want to be clear: I will continue to oppose the two-child limit at every opportunity. Child poverty is a matter of conscience for me: 44.6 per cent of children in my constituency live in poverty," Begum said, as reported by The Evening Standard. She further emphasized that calls to scrap the policy are growing, not just from within Parliament but also from key figures and organizations dedicated to child welfare.
Begum, the MP for Poplar and Limehouse since 2019, has been an outspoken critic of the cap, citing its devastating impact on families in her constituency. According to ITV News, she pledged, "I will continue to expose the two-child limit at every opportunity." Her commitment is rooted in the stark reality that nearly half of the children in her area are living in poverty—a statistic she describes as unconscionable in modern Britain.
McDonnell, who has represented Hayes and Harlington since 1997 and served as shadow chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn, echoed similar sentiments, though he has been less vocal publicly since the suspension. The pair’s return to the Labour fold is seen by some as a nod to the party’s left wing, at a time when Labour’s leadership is seeking to balance internal unity with broader electoral appeal.
The Labour Party’s internal divisions over welfare policy have been on full display since the initial rebellion. The decision to suspend MPs who voted with their conscience on the two-child cap has drawn criticism from activists and some colleagues. Begum, in her statement, pointedly remarked, "It is unconscionable that other colleagues remain suspended for voting with their conscience against cuts to disability benefits, along with the longest-serving black MP Diane Abbott, while others retain the whip, like Lord Mandelson." Her comments highlight ongoing frustrations over what some perceive as inconsistent disciplinary actions within the party.
Indeed, the issue of party discipline remains contentious. While McDonnell and Begum have now been welcomed back, other MPs—such as Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman, and Chris Hinchliff—remain without the whip after their own acts of rebellion over welfare reforms, winter fuel allowance cuts, and planning legislation. Diane Abbott, a trailblazing MP and long-serving figure in Labour politics, was re-suspended in July 2025 after making remarks about racism and prejudice that reignited debate about the party’s approach to internal dissent and public statements.
The broader context for these disciplinary actions is Labour’s ongoing struggle to define its stance on social welfare in the face of public pressure. According to ITV News, an exclusive report revealed that 101 Labour MPs have backed a call by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown to increase taxes on betting companies as a means to tackle child poverty—a move that underscores the party’s search for new approaches to social justice. The annual conference in Liverpool is expected to see these issues play out in real time, with activists, MPs, and party leaders all vying to shape Labour’s message heading into the next general election.
For Begum, the fight is personal and political. She has consistently framed her opposition to the two-child cap as a matter of principle. "When I stood for re-election, I said I would continue to stand up for the people of Poplar and Limehouse, championing explicitly anti-imperialist and socialist policies, and driven by a diverse people-powered movement. I will continue to do so in this vein no matter what," she declared, as reported by The Guardian. Her words reflect both her commitment to her constituents and her broader ideological vision for the party.
The restoration of the whip to McDonnell and Begum also signals a possible shift in Labour’s approach to internal dissent. After a period marked by high-profile suspensions and defections—including the departure of Zarah Sultana and Jeremy Corbyn’s move to establish a new party—the leadership appears to be seeking a more conciliatory tone, at least on certain issues. The decision comes after months of campaigning by grassroots activists and growing recognition that the party must address the real-world impact of its policies on vulnerable families.
As Labour’s annual conference convenes in Liverpool, the debate over the two-child benefit cap will serve as a litmus test for the party’s values and priorities. With public opinion increasingly turning against the cap and prominent figures calling for its abolition, the party faces a pivotal moment. Whether Labour can present a united front and offer a compelling alternative to current welfare policies remains to be seen, but the reinstatement of McDonnell and Begum suggests that voices of dissent are once again being heard within the party’s ranks.
The coming days will reveal whether Labour’s leadership is prepared to embrace a bolder stance on child poverty—or whether internal divisions will continue to shape the party’s trajectory. For now, the return of McDonnell and Begum has injected fresh momentum into the debate, ensuring that the voices of those most affected by welfare policy are not lost in the shuffle of party politics.
