Brian Leishman loses party whip over repeated rows with UK Government

Brian Leishman is among four Labour MPs to have lost the party whip after rebelling against the UK Government.    

The MP for Alloa and Grangemouth was suspended pending an investigation into him voting against the government and his comments in the media and chamber, the Daily Record has reported.   

It comes a week after Leishman took home the Braveheart gong at Holyrood’s inaugural Scottish MP awards.    

Neil Duncan-Jordan, Rachael Maskel, Chris Hinchliff are believed to be the other two MPs to have been temporarily suspended.   

Leishman has been openly critical of the government’s policies since becoming an MP last year, particularly of its handling of the closure of the Grangemouth refinery.    

Speaking to Holyrood in March, he said his party was not doing enough to save the refinery, which ceased operations a month later.   

Leishman was also one of four Scottish Labour MPs to vote against the government’s welfare reforms last week.   

He also urged colleagues to “do the right thing” and back the SNP’s bill to compensate Waspi women, earlier this year.   

Leishman said: "I am a proud Labour member, and I remain committed to the party. 

"I wish to remain a Labour MP and deliver the positive change many voters are craving. 

"I have voted against the Government on issues because I want to effectively represent and be the voice for communities across Alloa and Grangemouth. 

"I firmly believe that it is not my duty as an MP to make people poorer, especially those that have suffered because of austerity and its dire consequences. 

“It is the honour of my life to be the MP for Alloa and Grangemouth, and my priority remains representing and fighting for constituents, whether they voted for me or not.”