Four MPs suspended by Labour for voting against the government on the two-child benefit cap have been readmitted into the parliamentary party. Labour has restored the whip to Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Imran Hussain and Rebecca Long-Bailey, after they spent just over six months as independents.

Labour will not restore the party whip to three Left-wing MPs after they ignored calls to tone down their criticism of the Government. John McDonnell, the former shadow chancellor, and fellow backbenchers Apsana Begum and Zarah Sultana were suspended along with four others in July after rebelling over the two-child benefit cap.

Rebecca Long-Bailey is one of four MPs to be readmitted to the Labour Party after they were suspended last summer. Long-Bailey has had the whip restored along with Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne and Imran Hussain. They had all been suspended for voting against the government on the two-child benefit cap in July last year.