Fifth of Labour MPs rebel against party line as Welfare Reform Bill passes second reading

A fifth of Labour MPs last night rebelled against their acting party leader as the Commons backed government plans for £12bn in welfare cuts.

Interim Labour leader Harriet Harman tabled an amendment to the Welfare Reform and Work Bill, albeit called on her party to abstain should her proposed changes fail.

With the amendment defeated 308 to 208, a total of 48 Labour MPs, including leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn and London mayoral candidates David Lammy and Sadiq Khan, opted to vote against the bill.

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The SNP, which voted against the bill, has claimed Labour will pay a high price in next May’s Scottish Parliament’s elections for their decision not to oppose the legislation in higher numbers. 

The bill, which includes plans to limit child tax credits to two children and a reduction in the benefit cap from £26,000 to £20,000 outside of London, passed its second reading late last night by 308 to 124 votes.

A total of 18 of the 53 newly-elected Labour MPs defied the leader’s wishes, while John McDonnell, Labour MP for Hayes and Harlington, said he would "swim through vomit" to oppose the legislation during a five-hour long debate in the Commons.

SNP Fair Work and Employment spokesperson Hannah Bardell MP said: “The Tories' cruel welfare cuts damage the working poor and vulnerable people, and had to be opposed.

"Labour had the perfect opportunity to join the SNP in a progressive coalition to oppose the Tories - but with some honourable exceptions they sat on their hands.

"This disgraceful stance will haunt Labour through next year's Scottish Parliament election and far beyond.”

The Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and the Greens all voted against the bill.