Earlier this week MPs voted in favour of the Government’s welfare reforms Bill despite rebel Labour MPs’ attempts to block the controversial cuts.
MPs voted to pass a watered-down version of the Government’s Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill by 335 votes to 260 on Tuesday, July 1. As a result, the Bill has now passed its Second Reading and will now proceed to the committee stage.
Fearing an embarrassing and destabilising defeat, Ministers dialled down the some of the more contentious elements of the measures announced by Liz Kendall earlier in the year, after over 100 Labour MPs signed an amendment seeking to block the Government’s cuts.
Across the six Hull and East Yorkshire constituencies MPs were split on the issue. MPs from the three Hull constituencies, all of which belong to the Labour Party, voted for the Bill. Emma Hardy (Hull West and Haltemprice), Dame Diana Johnson (Hull North and Cottingham ), and Karl Turner (Hull East), all backed their party’s Government.
(Image: Karl Turner / Labour Party)
Mr Turner explained he had concerns with the Bill’s initial form and wrote to the Secretary of State, outlining how the cuts would impact his constituents. Mr Turner has said he “welcomed the changes” made to the Bill, adding “it was as a result of these changes, that I supported the Government and voted in support of the Bill as voting against would have had serious consequences for my constituents in East Hull.”
There was a different story in the East Riding where two of the three Conservative MPs voted against the Government’s Bill. Both Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) and Charlie Dewhirst (Bridlington and The Wolds) were against the bill whilst their Conservative colleague David Davis (Goole and Pocklington) did not record a vote.
On the issue, Mr Dewhirst has said: “Given the size of the Government’s majority in the commons the Prime Minister had a golden opportunity to reduce reform welfare and curb the spiralling benefits bill. With disability benefits forecast to hit almost £100 billion by 2020 we offered to support the Government, but only if they introduced measures to help people back into work.
(Image: Parliament website)
“Any changes must make work pay and restore fairness to taxpayers. It’s clear the Government have no serious plan to tackle welfare reform and taxpayers will be footing the bill come the autumn budget.”
You can see how all MPs voted using our interactive widget.
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