Whip restored to suspended Labour MP Leishman

Brian Leishman was suspended in July after rebelling against the government

Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman has had the whip restored four months after being suspended for repeatedly rebelling against the government.

Leishman is one of four MPs who have sat as independents since July.

Neil Duncan-Jordan, Chris Hinchliff, Brian Leishman and Rachael Maskell will no longer sit as independents in the Commons following a review of their recent conduct.

The four are all understood to have had the whip returned after discussions with chief whip Jonathan Reynolds on Friday.

Responding to the news on social media, Leishman welcomed the move but said the Labour government "must change course".

"People can rest assured that I will continue to fight for my constituents' interests and to improve living standards," he wrote.

"This Labour government must change course and govern by real Labour Party values. That's what I'll fight for."

The four MPs had voted against the government a number of times in the run-up to their suspension.

Their most significant rebellion was against welfare reforms which they said would harm people claiming disability benefits.

Leishman had also repeatedly criticised Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer over the closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery.

Speaking at the time of his suspension, Leishman told BBC Scotland News he was "devastated" to lose the whip.

"I am a proud Labour Party member," he said. "I don't want to lose the whip and, to be honest, I don't think what I have said and what I have done in my first 12 months as an MP (mean) I deserve to."

The MP said he had "no forewarning" of the decision and added he had been elected to be a "voice for my constituents across Alloa and Grangemouth".

Leishman also said he wished to remain a Labour MP.

A former golf coach, Leishman was elected in the landslide Labour election victory of 2024 and is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group.