EXCLUSIVE: The Alloa and Grangemouth MP told the Record he is "committed rock solid to the Labour Party" and wants the whip back.

Sir Keir Starmer rejected comparisons to Sir Tony Blair when grilled over the suspension of Labour MPs due to their opposition of welfare cuts. Sky News' Beth Rigby recalled how 47 MPs voted against the former Labour prime minister's welfare plans in 1997, but none had the whip removed.

The second is with Dominic Cummings, who influenced Boris Johnson to rely on the tactic of removing the whip from rebels during Brexit negotiations. But his "ruthlessness" in pursuit of a Brexit deal nonetheless served a "clear purpose". For Starmer – "after multiple U-turns" – the challenge is that "even sympathisers remain uncertain what his is".

The local Labour party in Falkirk has given its “full support” to suspended MP Brian Leishman, saying it is clear that he “belongs in the Labour Party”.

SNP Westminster deputy leader Pete Wishart MP said: “It says it all that the only Labour MP who has dared stand up for Scotland has been suspended by Keir Starmer - simply because he refused to betray his constituents like every other Scottish Labour MP has done repeatedly.

Brian Leishman is the Labour MP for Alloa and Grangemouth in Scotland, and is a member of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs. Just over a year ago, electors in Alloa & Grangemouth placed their faith in me and gave me the best job in the world – being their Member of Parliament.

A Labour rebel was asked to respond to claims she is a “knobhead” after losing the party whip. Rachael Maskell was one of four MPs suspended by Keir Starmer for numerous breaches of party discipline,

Rachael Maskell, who lost the Labour whip in a purge of troublemakers, said the Prime Minister was wrong to act in the way he had.

Brian Leishman is among three Labour MPs to have reportedly lost the party whip after rebelling against the UK