Britain's Labour Party suspended four of its lawmakers on Wednesday for organising plans to vote against the government over its welfare reforms, an attempt by Prime Minister Keir Starmer to re-assert his control.

Labour suspended a number of its members of Parliament for breaking party discipline following a large-scale rebellion over welfare cuts earlier this month.

Sir Keir Starmer has defended his decision to suspend four MPs, saying Labour has to "deal with" those who defy party orders. The prime minister argued the MPs were "elected on a Labour manifesto" and so should back the government's agenda.