logo
Who are the 47 Labour MPs who rebelled in the welfare reforms vote?

Who are the 47 Labour MPs who rebelled in the welfare reforms vote?

Independent09-07-2025
Almost 50 Labour MPs have rebelled against the Government over its welfare reforms after warnings the legislation 'remains a danger to disabled people'.
Mother of the House Diane Abbott, former minister Dawn Butler, and former shadow minister Andy McDonald were among the 47 Labour MPs who voted against the welfare Bill at third reading.
The reforms passed with MPs voting 336 votes to 242, majority 94.
The Government had watered down its welfare plans last week by removing the personal independence payment (Pip) part of the Bill in a bid to appease angry backbenchers.
Despite this, a number of Labour MPs remained unhappy with the now-called Universal Credit Bill.
Speaking in the Commons, Neil Duncan-Jordan, the Poole MP, said the Government's earlier concessions were not enough 'because this Bill still contains a proposal to cut £2 billion from the universal credit health element for over 750,000 future claims'.
Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East, said 'these changes do not alleviate all of my concerns', adding: 'One in three disabled people are already in poverty.
'This Bill, even after the Government's amendment, would take around £3,000 a year from the disabled people of the future.'
Kim Johnson argued the Bill 'remains a danger to disabled people', adding: 'It's not just a bad policy, it's economically reckless, because when you take away essential support you don't reduce costs, you shift those costs on to the NHS, on to local authorities and on to unpaid carers and on to working class communities.'
The Liverpool Riverside MP said she 'will not stand by while this Government has stripped away dignity, security and hope for the people I represent'.
Mr McDonald described the situation as a 'shambles', adding: 'Now is the moment to stop the cuts, and I implore the Government to rethink this Bill.'
The Middlesbrough and Thornaby East MP said the welfare Bill would 'discourage' people from taking an opportunity to try and work.
'A Government that claims to care about fairness cannot proceed like this,' he added.
Alison Hume, MP for Scarborough and Whitby, also urged the Government to 'pull this Bill', adding: 'Let's get it right for the people who really matter. Let's get it right for disabled people.'
Cat Eccles, who spoke of her own experience of the system after she 'almost lost my life, followed by a total mental breakdown', also criticised the legislation.
The Stourbridge MP said: 'I didn't come here to make people worse off, and that's why I still cannot support this Bill.'
Stella Creasy tabled an amendment which would have required the Secretary of State to have due regard to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Walthamstow MP said her new clause four would aim to 'ensure that people can live a life of freedom equally alongside us as our fellow human beings' and that 'disabled people in our communities can meet their living expenses'.
Here is a full list of Labour MPs who voted against the Bill at third reading:
Diane Abbott (Hackney North and Stoke Newington), Rosena Allin-Khan (Tooting), Paula Barker (Liverpool Wavertree), Lee Barron (Corby and East Northamptonshire), Lorraine Beavers (Blackpool North and Fleetwood), Olivia Blake (Sheffield Hallam), Chris Bloore (Redditch), Jonathan Brash (Hartlepool), Richard Burgon (Leeds East), Maureen Burke (Glasgow North East), Dawn Butler (Brent East), Ian Byrne (Liverpool West Derby), Irene Campbell (North Ayrshire and Arran), Stella Creasy (Walthamstow), Marsha De Cordova (Battersea), Peter Dowd (Bootle), Neil Duncan-Jordan (Poole), Cat Eccles (Stourbridge), Mary Kelly Foy (City of Durham), Barry Gardiner (Brent West), Tracy Gilbert (Edinburgh North and Leith), Mary Glindon (Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend), Chris Hinchliff (North East Hertfordshire), Alison Hume (Scarborough and Whitby), Imran Hussain (Bradford East), Kim Johnson (Liverpool Riverside), Ian Lavery (Blyth and Ashington), Brian Leishman (Alloa and Grangemouth), Emma Lewell (South Shields), Clive Lewis (Norwich South), Rebecca Long Bailey (Salford), Rachael Maskell (York Central), Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough and Thornaby East), Navendu Mishra (Stockport), Abtisam Mohamed (Sheffield Central), Grahame Morris (Easington), Margaret Mullane (Dagenham and Rainham), Simon Opher (Stroud), Kate Osborne (Jarrow and Gateshead East), Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Clapham and Brixton Hill), Marie Rimmer (St Helens South and Whiston), Euan Stainbank (Falkirk), Graham Stringer (Blackley and Middleton South), Jon Trickett (Normanton and Hemsworth), Derek Twigg (Widnes and Halewood), Nadia Whittome (Nottingham East), Mohammad Yasin (Bedford).
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

JD Vance will meet Nigel Farage for breakfast in the Cotswolds - after a 'barbecue and few beers' with Thomas Skinner
JD Vance will meet Nigel Farage for breakfast in the Cotswolds - after a 'barbecue and few beers' with Thomas Skinner

Daily Mail​

time29 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

JD Vance will meet Nigel Farage for breakfast in the Cotswolds - after a 'barbecue and few beers' with Thomas Skinner

US Vice-President JD Vance is set to meet Nigel Farage for breakfast later today after spending the evening with The Apprentice star Thomas Skinner. The US politician and reality TV star's unlikely friendship began on X and resulted in Skinner receiving an invite to join Mr Vance at his holiday residence in the Cotswolds. The Essex trader said the opportunity was 'once in a lifetime', also describing the Vice-President as a 'proper gent'. Vance hosted the barbecue with invitees including Cambridge Academic James Orr and Conservative MP Danny Kruger, The Times reported. A picture of the pair was shared on Skinner's social media. He wrote: 'Here is a pic of Me and Vice President JD Vance towards the end of the night after a few beers 'I'm overdressed in my suit, but when the VP invites you to a BBQ, you don't risk turning up in shorts an flip-flops 'Cracking night in the beautiful English countryside with JD, his friends and family. Once in a lifetime. Bosh.' In another reply, he added: 'When the Vice President of the USA invites ya for a BBQ an beers, you say yes. 'Unreal night with JD and his friends n family. He was a proper gent. 'Lots of laughs and some fantastic food. A brilliant night, one to tell the grand kids about mate. Bosh.' The meeting follows the VP's visit to Chevening House in Kent where he and his family stayed with Foreign Secretary David Lammy for two days. He reportedly also met Conservative Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick while in the UK. His whistle-stop tour of British politicians is set to continue with breakfast alongside Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in The Cotswolds tomorrow. Thomas Skinner has become a social media star ever since appearing on The Apprentice in 2019. He subsequently gained online attention for sharing videos of early morning breakfasts at his local cafe and his love for roast dinners. He later appeared on Celebrity MasterChef in 2020. In recent years, Skinner has held more meetings with politicians, including meeting Robert Jenrick, as his followers have begun to urge him to take his own step into politics. Meanwhile Vance's presence in the English countryside has attracted some criticism with locals complaining of disruption and left–leaning protesters flocking to the area. Jeremy Clarkson said his new summer neighbour has interrupted the filming of Clarkson's Farm as the secret service swarms the surrounding countryside and a no–fly zone has been put in place. Motoring journalist turned farmer Clarkson said that the one–mile no fly zone around Vance's Cotswolds manor house rental is preventing drone cameramen on his Amazon Prime show from doing their job. Protestors have also descended on the countryside for a 'JD Vance not welcome party' The Stop Trump Coalition has been leading protests against both Mr Trump and Mr Vance's visits, and vowed to come out in force later today. 'JD Vance is a hideous moral vacuum and the British public want nothing to do with him,' said spokesmperson Zoe Gardner. 'It is nauseating to watch ministers' displays of fake friendship with this authoritarian, anti-democratic, genocide-enabling US regime. 'We will be throwing a 'Vance Not Welcome' party – using our free speech to let him know he and his politics of hate are not welcome in the Cotswolds or any part of our country.' One woman held a sign saying 'Cotswold childless cat ladies say go home' - in a reference to Mr Vance's comments about America being governed by 'childless cat ladies' Mr Vance is already considering following up his Cotswold holiday with a visit to Ayrshire later this week, prompting police to ready a 'significant policing operation' involving as many as 1,000 officers. The massive security operation surrounding Dean Manor has prompted its owner to apologise to neighbours for the disruption. The enormous property, where the Vice-President is staying, is located in a tiny hamlet of just 12 houses in Oxfordshire, and was picked out by US secret service personnel because of its remote secure location. Stone walls 15ft tall protect its immaculately manicured six–acre gardens The house, which was built 1702 in the reign of Queen Anne, is surrounded by teams of US secret service operatives dressed in regulation navy blue sports jackets and khaki chino trousers who are guarding the property around the clock. The manor house's owner, Pippa Hornby, was also sworn to secrecy on the imminent arrival of her new high–profile tenant. It is believed the rental may cost as much as £8,000 a week. Fittingly for right–wing Republican Vice President Mr Vance, the manor house has a history of Tory political figures as previous owners. It even has a former Tory Prime Minister living a very short stroll away. Dean Manor was built in 1702 for local Oxford Tory MP Thomas Rowney and is grade II listed. It was until recently owned by Tory peer Peter Selwyn Gummer, Baron Chadlington. Former Tory Prime Minister David Cameron – who is also known as Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton – also lives in Dean with his wife Samantha and he has a permanent team of armed Metropolitan Police Protection officers at his home there. Dean Manor is about as close a neighbouring property to Clarkson's own Cotswolds home, Curdle Hill Farm, better known as Diddly Squat Farm, can be. They are a mile apart as the crow flies, separated mainly by Clarkson's own arable fields.

Treasury considers inheritance tax reforms to fill £50bn spending gap in budget
Treasury considers inheritance tax reforms to fill £50bn spending gap in budget

The Independent

timean hour ago

  • The Independent

Treasury considers inheritance tax reforms to fill £50bn spending gap in budget

Rachel Reeves is looking to raise more money by tightening the rules around inheritance tax in the autumn budget, it's been reported. Amid growing pressure regarding the state of the UK's finances ahead of the autumn budget, the chancellor is looking to address a blackhole left by Labour U-turns, higher borrowing and sluggish economic growth. Economists have warned Ms Reeves that she must raise taxes or tear up her flagship borrowing rules to fill the shortfall in public finances. According to a report in The Guardian, the Treasury is now looking at options on inheritance tax like changing rules to restrict the gifting of money and assets Under current rules, unlimited amounts of money and assets can be gifted to relatives and friends which avoids inheritance tax, provided that it is gifted at least seven years before the benefactor dies. Money given less than three years before is taxed at the full inheritance tax rate of 40 per cent, while gifts given between seven and three years has a 'taper relief' tax, which is between eight and 32 per cent. The Guardian reports that the Treasury is considering a lifetime cap to limit the amount of money an individual can donate outside of inheritance tax, as well as reviewing rules around the taper rate. 'With so much wealth stored in assets like houses that have shot up in value, we have to find ways to better tap into the inheritances of those who can afford to contribute more,' a source told the newspaper. 'It's hard to make sure these taxes don't end up with loopholes that undermine their purpose. But we are trying to work out what revenue might be raised and how to ensure it's a fair approach.' However, it has been reported that no substantive talks at a senior level have occurred about inheritance tax, and no decisions have been made. Reeves has already ruled out increases to income tax, national insurance and VAT, while inheritance tax brought in a record £6.7bn in 2022-2023. However, recent analysis that showed wealthy investors are leaving the UK because of measures such as the abolition of non-dom status has caused nervousness. A Treasury spokesperson said: 'As set out in the plan for change, the best way to strengthen public finances is by growing the economy – which is our focus. Changes to tax and spend policy are not the only ways of doing this, as seen with our planning reforms, which are expected to grow the economy by £6.8bn and cut borrowing by £3.4bn. 'We are committed to keeping taxes for working people as low as possible, which is why at last autumn's budget we protected working people's payslips and kept our promise not to raise the basic, higher or additional rates of income tax, employee national insurance or VAT.'

Government urges households to check if they can save £150 on energy bills
Government urges households to check if they can save £150 on energy bills

The Independent

timean hour ago

  • The Independent

Government urges households to check if they can save £150 on energy bills

The government has urged households to check they are eligible for an automatic discount on their energy bills this year as an annual scheme is expanded. The Warm Home Discount provides a £150 cut to domestic energy bills for qualifying recipients. The one-off discount is applied automatically to an energy bill between October and March. Around six million people will now receive a payment this winter, up by 2.7 million from last year after the Department for Energy and Net Zero (DESNZ) announced an expansion to the scheme. This brought in new rules that mean the bill payer must now only receive an eligible means-tested benefit, whereas before they also had to prove they lived in a home with high energy costs. However, the person in receipt of the benefit must be named on the energy bill to receive the payment, DESNZ has reminded households. Energy suppliers – which automatically apply the discount – will rely on customers' records as of 24 August to check eligibility. This means there is just a few weeks to ensure the correct person is named on the energy bill. A factor like moving house or changing supplier can sometimes affect this. After this date, eligible customers can still claim the discount, but will need to wait for a letter to arrive later in the year. This could come as late as January 2026. Minister for energy consumers Miatta Fahnbulleh said: 'We took decisive action earlier this year to expand the Warm Home Discount, giving more working families certainty and peace of mind before winter. 'I now want to make sure as many eligible households as possible get £150 off their energy bill, putting more money in their pockets as part of our Plan for Change. 'If you know someone who might be eligible – please start spreading the word to family and friends, encouraging them to check they are named on their energy bill.' To be eligible for the payment in England and Wales, the bill payer must either receive the guarantee credit element of pension credit or one of: The expansion of the Warm Home Discount comes after energy regulator Ofgem warned that UK energy bills are set to surge despite a recent cut to its price cap. The energy watchdog recently revealed that bills are set to rise by £104 by 2031 to cover the cost of £24 billion extra investment in Britain's energy infrastructure.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store