SIR KEIR STARMER has been condemned by union leaders for suspending seven Labour MPs for voting to scrap the two-child benefit cap, as independents including Jeremy Corbyn vowed to work with them to offer a “real alternative.”

Leaders of fire, education, civil service, bakeries and mail unions hit out at the Prime Minister’s “disgraceful” and “completely wrong” decision as they joined thousands backing a grassroots petition calling for their reinstatement.

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, ex-shadow business secretary Rebecca Long Bailey, Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Zarah Sultana and Imran Hussain were kicked out of the Parliamentary Labour Party for six months for backing an SNP amendment calling for the cap to be scrapped on Tuesday night.

Ms Sultana, MP for Coventry South, suggested she was the victim of a “macho virility test” today.

“This isn’t a game … this is about people’s lives,” she added.

“I slept well knowing that I took a stand against child poverty that is affecting 4.3 million people in this country and it is the right thing to do and I am glad I did it.”

MP for Poplar and Limehouse Ms Begum said: “Labour’s own 11 affiliated unions support the scrapping of the two-child benefit cap; there’s popular support among the Labour Party membership to see the cap lifted.”

Ms Begum, who has been a victim of domestic abuse, added that it was “unacceptable” that Labour whips had offered her support on bills in that area if she voted with the government.

“It’s very heartbreaking to see such a draconian stand being taken by my party on the vote today which was not against the Labour Party plan or programme,” she said.

John McDonnell said: “The two-child cap on benefits was one of the cruellest policies of the Osborne era.

The king’s speech amendment “was a plea to include this basic reform in the programme.”

He said Labour’s budget preparation “was under way quickly after the election; it is becoming increasingly apparent that the chancellor has left herself sufficient flexibility on estimates of growth and additional taxation measures to accommodate the measure.“

Former Labour leader Mr Corbyn and four other left independents signed a letter in solidarity to the seven MPs, saying the punishment was “beyond disgraceful” and “displays a shameful absence of moral leadership.”

Leading the calls for the MPs’ reinstatement, TUC president and Fire Brigades Union general secretary Matt Wrack said: “The UK is a rich country with ample resources for everyone to live a decent life.

“The seven MPs who voted to scrap the cap spoke for millions of trade union members and many Labour Party members.

“Keir Starmer must restore the whip to them immediately.”

RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “It’s a shame that they haven’t agreed to get rid of the cap and I’m very proud of the MPs who have rebelled tonight.”

National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede said: “There is no more important issue in this country than that of child poverty.

“What is deeply disappointing is that issue is now being reduced to some ‘Labour factional war.’

“Every person I know who has actually worked with children thinks the two-child benefit cap should go at the earliest opportunity.”

Communication Workers Union general secretary Dave Ward said: “To see Labour suspending MPs who are fighting to end child poverty is completely wrong.

“This isn’t party management — it’s over the top diktat. The whip should be reinstated immediately.”

Public and Commercial Services general secretary Fran Heathcote said: “Labour MPs should not be disciplined for fighting child poverty. Sign the petition to restore the whip.”

BFAWU general secretary Sarah Woolley added: “It’s disgraceful less than three weeks after telling the world ‘country before party’ that seven MPs have been suspended for taking that stance, we stand in solidarity with Apsana, Richard, Becky, John, Zarah and Ian and demand they have the whip reinstated.”

Labour national executive committee member Gemma Bolton added: “Keir Starmer and company still seem more obsessed with bashing the left than changing the country.”

The petition was initiated by the Labour Assembly Against Austerity and Arise — A Festival of Left Ideas.

Their spokesman Matt Willgress said: “These seven MPs were right to support a measure that would lift 300,000 children out of poverty — and would be a great start to undoing the social emergency caused by 14 years of failed Tory austerity.”

MPs voted 363 to 103 to reject the amendment after the Morning Star went to press on Tuesday night. 

No Scottish Labour MPs joined the rebels despite their leader Anas Sarwar lobbying Sir Keir for the Tory-era cap, which restricts child welfare payments to the first two children born to most families, to be axed.

Today Sir Keir vowed to tackle child poverty “with the same vigour” as the last Labour government when challenged over his refusal to immediately axe the two-child benefit cap at his first Prime Minister’s Questions since entering No 10.

Defying the government over the King’s Speech “is a serious matter,” Downing Street said.