Labour suspends whip from trial MPs
The three men have had the whip suspended
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Monday, 08, Feb 2010 11:26
by politics.co.uk staff
The three Labour MPs set to go on trial for allegedly fiddling their expenses have had the whip suspended.
David Chaytor, Elliot Morley and Jim Devine will no longer receive instructions from the party's whips telling them how to vote, meaning they are effectively barred from the party.
But the decision to only suspend the whip means they could have their status reinstated if they are cleared of the charges against them.
"The Labour party's general secretary has today suspended David Chaytor, Jim Devine and Elliot Morley's membership of the Labour party in light of the serious allegations against them," a spokesman said.
"They had already been barred from standing for parliament as Labour candidates.
"The decision follows a formal process which included representations from the chief whip and consultations with party officials over the weekend and means the three MPs have been suspended from the whip and cannot attend any Labour party meetings."
The 'administrative suspension' comes on the same day as David Cameron launches a withering attack on Gordon Brown for not taking swift action in the wake of the expenses scandal.
The opposition leader was expected to claim credit for the move after he planned on demanding the MPs' suspension in his speech.