Suffolk MPs vote on party lines for welfare reform bill

At the second reading of the Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment in the commons yesterday, all of the county's Labour MP's voted for the bill, after concessions from the government.

Ipswich MP Jack Abbott, Suffolk Coastal MP Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket MP Dr Peter Prinsley and Lowestoft MP Jess Asato voted in favour. 

Suffolk's Labour MP's voted for the bill, Jack Abbott, Jess Asato, Dr Peter Prinsley and Jenny Riddell-Carpenter (Image: Labour Party) South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge, West Suffolk MP Nick Timothy, Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Patrick Spencer and Waveney Valley MP Adrian Ramsey all voted against the bill.

There had been a growing rebellion against the Government's plans and an amendment to the bill had been tabled to kill the bill on the night. 

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, who was of 120 Labour MP's to signal her opposition to the bill last week, abstained from voting on the amendment, but did vote for the bill in support of the Government.

Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, Suffolk Coastal MP (Image: The Labour Party)

Last week she said: "Reforming welfare is absolutely vital - and must be a priority of this government.

"But we have to do it in a way that prioritises bringing forward employment support measures first, before we bring in cuts - and importantly that any changes to PIP are co-designed with disabled people directly.

"There are legitimate concerns amongst the disabled community that must be heard and understood."

Voting against the bill was James Cartlidge, Nick Timothy, Adrian Ramsay and Patrick Spencer (Image: Newsquest) Only one Suffolk MP, Waveney Valley's Adrian Ramsay, voted in favour of the amendment, with Jack Abbott and Peter Prinsley voting against. 

James Cartlidge and Nick Timothy abstained from voting in the amendment debate. 

Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Patrick Spencer voted by proxy. 

Multiple concessions from the government over the bill, whilst criticised heavily by the Conservative party as a "shambles" saw the bill over the line. 

The bill will now to go to the committee stage of reading, before returning to the commons next week.