Suspended North East Herts MP "remains focused on representing constituents"
Chris Hinchliff is one of four MPs last week removed from the Labour Party
The MP for North East Hertfordshire has responded to his suspension from the Labour Party by reaffirming his commitment to his constituents.
Chris Hinchliff is one of four MPs to have the Labour whip removed after voting against the Government’s welfare reform plans earlier this month.
The party leadership has cited persistent breaches of party discipline. However Mr Hinchliff said the reasons given for his suspension were not linked to specific policies.
He said: "In the meeting with the Chief Whip in which I was told about my suspension, the specific policy areas weren’t really touched on.
"It was, as it was put to me, a matter of being persistently rebellious. Now, that’s not a description I necessarily recognise."
He continued: "Since being elected, I’ve taken part in, I think, the best part of 250 votes in Parliament, and by my count, I have supported the Government position 97% of the time.
"I have in fact only voted directly against a government piece of legislation once."
Mr Hinchliff emphasised his approach has always been to seek improvements to legislation, saying: "In the other instances, I’ve been seeking to amend them to strengthen legislation for the sake of my constituents."
Rachael Maskell, who spearheaded plans to halt the Government's welfare reforms, also lost the whip, alongside Neil Duncan-Jordan and Brian Leishman.
All voted against the Government's benefits reforms as part of a wider rebellion earlier this month, and all aside from Ms Maskell were first elected at last year's election.
As well as the suspensions, three other MPs have been removed from trade envoy jobs: Rosena Allin-Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammad Yasin.
It is understood that those who have been suspended have had the whip removed due to repeated infringements when it comes to party discipline.
Mr Duncan-Jordan raised concerns about the Government's changes to the winter fuel allowance before the U-turn while Mr Leishman has been a critic of the Government's response to the Grangemouth closure.
Mr Hinchliff led a rebellion against ministers' Planning and Infrastructure Bill over environmental concerns.
The policy however now has been reviewed, changes Mr Hinchliff welcomes.
Despite his suspension, he insisted he would remain focused on both supporting his constituents and standing up for their rights in parliament.
He said: "I remain the Member of Parliament for North East Hertfordshire. I remain a Labour Member and I’m getting on with the day job of representing my constituents and I want to reassure them that nothing will change in how I engage with and represent them in Parliament."