Labour has no plans to oust pregnant MP Luciana Berger from an influential Commons select committee but is pushing to replace seven others who quit the party to join The Independent Group (TIG), HuffPost UK understands.
The party is holding internal elections to fill places on select committees occupied by the MPs who have defected.
The move has sparked a row with TIG, who fear it will dampen their influence.
But a Labour source insisted that places on committees are allocated “on a party basis” following every general election and so the party is right to move to fill them.
The shake-up emerged after TIG MP and Commons health committee chair Sarah Wollaston said any move to remove Berger from the committee would have sent “entirely the wrong message” about how maternity leave is regarded in parliament.
Raising a point of order, the former-Tory said Berger had “served with great distinction” on the health committee and was “nationally recognised” for her work on mental health.
HuffPost UK understands that the party will not seek to oust Berger - a move which would have been highly controversial given her decision to quit Labour after being subjected to anti-Semitic abuse.
But a Labour source said: “Select committee places are allocated on a party basis at the start of each parliament following a general election.
“The parliamentary Labour party holds elections to fill its places on select committees and is doing so to replace the Labour places.”
Commons Speaker John Bercow said any changes to the make-up of committees would have to be approved by MPs, meaning the Tories or other opposition parties could in theory block Labour’s proposals.
He said: “Changes in membership of select committees are made by this House on debatable and amendable motions.
“For almost all select committees such motions are moved on behalf of the selection committee by its chair or by another member of the selection committee.
“Under standing order 121, any number intending to propose that a member be discharged from a select committee shall endeavour to give notice to the member who he or she proposes to be discharged from the committee.”
Former Labour MPs at risk of being ousted from their select committee seats
Four Independent Group MPs are being challenged:
Gavin Shuker - women and equalities
Chris Leslie - international trade
Angela Smith - environment, food and rural affairs
Mike Gapes - foreign affairs and arms export controls
Three other independents, who do are not aligned with TIG, also face losing their committee seats:
Ian Austin - foreign affairs
John Woodcock - home affairs
Ivan Lewis - international development.
Frank Field is not at risk because as the chair of the work and pensions committee he is elected by the whole House of Commons and it would take a motion of no confidence to remove him, the source said.
Kelvin Hopkins meanwhile is suspended but is still required to follow the Labour whip.