Markus Campbell-Savours loses whip after voting against farmers’ tax

Markus Campbell-Savours, MP for Penrith and Solway, has been suspended from the Labour whip for voting against the an element of the Budget.

Campbell-Savours was the only Labour MP to vote against the increase in inheritance tax for farm land – though it is believed that more than 20 other, mostly rural, Labour MPs abstained.

As voting against any aspect of a Budget is considered a confidence issue, it has led to the MP being told that Labour is suspending him from the party whip and will now sit as an independent.

Campbell-Savours has not yet commented on the suspension or on his own vote – though he was in a combative mood on social media last night where he pushed back on SNP attempts to capitalise on the vote.

In his most recent post, he said: “I voted against the government’s proposed changes to inheritance tax for family farms. I said that is what I would do. I keep my word.”

Seven Labour MPs lost the whip shortly after the party returned to government following their decision to back an SNP amendment to the King’s Speech.

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