MP 'glad' to have Labour party suspension lifted

York Central MP Rachael Maskell had the whip removed over her opposition to planned welfare reforms

York Central MP Rachael Maskell has said it is "fantastic" to have her four-month suspension from the Labour party lifted.

She was one of four Labour MPs to have the whip removed over their opposition to the government's planned welfare reforms.

The group were among 47 Labour MPs who rebelled against the government's proposed cuts to welfare in July and forced ministers to water down their plans.

Maskell said: "I should never have been suspended in the first place. All I did was speak up for disabled people and especially people in poverty."

Maskell said her suspension had been "precautionary," pending an investigation, but she said no investigation took place.

However, a Labour Party source told the BBC that Maskell was not informed of any investigation - only that her conduct as an MP would be reviewed in the future.

Maskell said: "It's fantastic to have the whip restored.

"I'm really glad to be back as a Labour and Co-operative MP representing York Central."

She said the experience of being suspended would not stop her from speaking up in the future, either in support of the government or acting as a "critical friend" to ministers.

Maskell, who has represented York Central since 2015, said her priority was now to address child poverty.

She said: "It is a such massive issue across our country, 4.5 million children across the country going hungry, or cold, or not having enough to live on.

"There will be 180,000 children sleeping in temporary accommodation tonight.

"With the budget coming up, there must be such a laser focus on moving children out of poverty, removing the two-child benefit cap and also the welfare cap so families have the money they need for the future."

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has suggested she favours removing limits on benefits linked to family size at this month's Budget.

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