Seven Labour MPs have been suspended from the parliamentary party for voting against the government on an amendment to scrap the two-child benefit cap.
Ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell was among the Labour MPs who voted for an SNP motion calling for an end to the policy, which prevents almost all parents from claiming Universal Credit or child tax credit for more than two children.
The BBC understands the MPs are being removed from the party in parliament for a “period of time”.
MPs rejected the SNP amendment by 363 votes to 103, in the first major test of the new Labour government’s power.
Mr McDonnell backed the SNP motion alongside Richard Burgon, Ian Byre, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Imran Hussain, Apsana Begum and Zarah Sultana.
The government has been under growing pressure from Labour politicians to scrap the cap, with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham also backing calls for a change.
It is likely the MPs will lose the whip for a matter of months.
But the decision is an early show of force from the new government.
This is their first rebellion. Even though it is a small one, Labour whips are trying to send a message to MPs that dissent will not be tolerated.
However, there are many more Labour MPs who are opposed to the two-child benefit cap.
Many hope the party will make a decision in the coming months to scrap it.
