Losing the whip The 18 sitting MPs suspended by their parties
In the past 10 days, two Tory MPs have lost the party whip over misconduct allegations. William Wragg and Mark Menzies bolster the ranks of what is now the fourth largest “party” in the Commons – the 18 independent MPs. Their number doesn’t include half a dozen more who have resigned or been ejected in byelections after scandals in the past year.
Diane Abbott First elected in 1987, Labour
Abbott was suspended from Labour in April 2023 after suggesting that Jewish people did not face lifelong racism. She apologised and claimed the remarks were made in error. A year on, however, she remains under internal investigation and sits as an independent MP.
Crispin Blunt First elected in 1997, Conservative
The veteran MP was suspended by his party in October after being arrested on suspicion of rape and the possession of controlled substances. In a statement on social media at the time, Blunt, the MP for Reigate, said he was cooperating fully with the police investigation and was “confident [it] will end without charge”.
Andrew Bridgen First elected in 2010, Conservative
The MP for North West Leicestershire was permanently expelled from the Conservative party last April following the recommendation of a disciplinary panel. He lost the Tory whip after comparing the use of Covid vaccines to the Holocaust, and had used his platform to promote antivax conspiracy theories.
Nick Brown First elected in 1983, Labour
Labour’s long-serving former chief whip was suspended from the party in September 2022 following a formal complaint. No more information about what he is accused of has been made public. Brown, the MP for Newcastle upon Tyne East, announced his resignation from the party in December 2023 and called the disciplinary process involving him “a complete farce”.
Jeremy Corbyn First elected 1983, Labour
The former Labour leader was suspended in 2020 for saying allegations of antisemitism under his leadership had been “dramatically overstated” by his opponents, remarks which he had refused to withdraw. Keir Starmer has made it clear that he will not be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate, so Corbyn has been planning to seek re-election in his seat, Islington North, as an independent.
Geraint Davies First elected in 1997, Labour
The MP for Swansea West had the whip suspended in June 2023 after a report in Politico
documented a series of allegations of sexual harassment against him. Davies said at the time that he did not recognise the claims, but apologised if he had “inadvertently caused offence to anyone”. He remains under investigation.
Jeffrey Donaldson First elected in 1997, DUP
Donaldson resigned as the
DUP leader last month and was suspended from the party over allegations of historical sex offences. The MP for Lagan Valley has said he will strenuously contest the charges and is due to appear in court this month.
Jonathan Edwards First elected in 2010, Plaid Cymru
Edwards has sat as an independent MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr for nearly four years. He lost the Plaid Cymru whip in May 2020 after being arrested for assaulting his wife, for which he was later cautioned.
Matt Hancock First elected in 2010, Conservative
The former health secretary, who steered the government’s response to the pandemic, was suspended in November 2022 after signing up for the reality TV show I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! He travelled to Australia for an extended period to appear on the programme while parliament was sitting. Hancock now sits as an independent and has announced he will not seek re-election.
Julian Knight First elected in 2015, Conservative
Knight had the Conservative whip suspended in December 2022 after serious sexual assault allegations were made against him to the police. Earlier this year he was told by police that he would face no criminal action. He continues to sit as an independent and has said he will not seek re-election.
Angus MacNeil First elected in 2005, SNP
MacNeil was one of the SNP’s longest-serving MPs, but was suspended and eventually expelled last summer after a row with the party’s chief whip over missing votes in the Commons. He has been a vocal critic of the party in recent years, claiming it was “not serious” about Scottish independence. He has said he will seek re-election, as an independent.
Conor McGinn First elected in 2015, Labour
McGinn, a former Labour deputy campaign coordinator, was suspended from the party in December 2022 after a formal complaint. The nature of it is unknown. In October 2023 he told his local paper he was leaving the party and withdrawing from what he called a “flawed and prejudicial process” against him.
Mark Menzies First elected in 2010, Conservative
Menzies lost the Tory whip on Wednesday over claims he misused party campaign funds and abused his position. The Conservative party is aware of the claims and is investigating. He denies wrongdoing.
Kate Osamor First elected in 2015, Labour
Osamor was suspended from Labour in January for saying Gaza should be remembered as a genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day. She issued an apology for the remarks and is under investigation.
Rob Roberts
First elected in 2019, Conservative Roberts had the Conservative whip suspended over claims of sexual misconduct in September 2021. An independent panel found that he had made unwanted sexual advances towards a former staff member. Roberts apologised and was suspended from the Commons for six weeks, but has stayed on as an independent MP.
Bob Stewart
First elected in 2010, Conservative Stewart surrendered the Tory whip in November while he appealed against a conviction for a racially aggravated public order offence. His conviction was quashed on appeal in February, but he has not had the whip restored.
Claudia Webbe First elected in 2019, Labour
Webbe received a community service sentence in 2022 after being convicted in 2021 of harassing a female friend of her partner. She was expelled from the Labour party but has stayed on as an independent MP since then.
William Wragg First elected 2015, Conservative
Wragg voluntarily relinquished the Tory whip this month after confessing to handing over colleagues’ personal phone numbers to someone he met on a dating app. Police are investigating.