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Welfare cuts backed amid Labour revolt Welfare cuts backed amid Labour revolt
(about 1 hour later)
MPs have backed government plans for £12bn in welfare cuts amid a Labour revolt over its leadership's call for MPs not to oppose the changes. MPs have backed government plans for £12bn in welfare cuts, but acting Labour leader Harriet Harman suffered a significant rebellion in the vote.
The Commons backed the Welfare Reform and Work Bill by 308 to 124 votes at its first hurdle. The Commons backed the Welfare Reform and Work Bill by 308 to 124 votes.
But 48 Labour MPs defied orders to abstain and instead voted against the bill, which includes plans to limit child tax credit to two children. Forty-eight Labour MPs defied orders to abstain and instead voted against the bill, which includes plans to limit child tax credit to two children.
Of 53 Labour MPs first elected to Parliament in May, 18 opposed the bill. Rebels included leadership hopeful Jeremy Corbyn and London mayoral candidates Sadiq Khan and David Lammy.
Those who rebelled included leadership contender Jeremy Corbyn and London mayoral candidates Sadiq Khan and David Lammy. Of the 53 Labour MPs first elected to Parliament in May, 18 opposed the bill.
During a five-hour debate, Labour MP John McDonnell said he would "swim through vomit" to oppose the legislation.During a five-hour debate, Labour MP John McDonnell said he would "swim through vomit" to oppose the legislation.
However, a Labour amendment seeking to derail the legislation was defeated by 308 votes to 208.However, a Labour amendment seeking to derail the legislation was defeated by 308 votes to 208.
Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman has faced criticism for her stance, with many MPs saying she should have been more outspoken in her opposition to curbs on child tax credits and cuts to other in-work benefits. Ms Harman has faced criticism for her stance, with many MPs saying she should have been more outspoken in her opposition to curbs on child tax credits and cuts to other in-work benefits.
Mr Corbyn's three Labour leadership rivals - Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall - followed Ms Harman's lead and abstained.Mr Corbyn's three Labour leadership rivals - Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall - followed Ms Harman's lead and abstained.
Reacting to the vote, Labour MP Diane Abbott tweeted: "Just voted against Tory welfare bill. Sorry for colleagues who knew it was wrong but abstained. We weren't sent to Parliament to abstain."Reacting to the vote, Labour MP Diane Abbott tweeted: "Just voted against Tory welfare bill. Sorry for colleagues who knew it was wrong but abstained. We weren't sent to Parliament to abstain."
Conservative MP and chief secretary to the Treasury Greg Hands tweeted: "47 Labour rebels on welfare tonight. Huge. Biggest Labour rebellion for some time. Leadership crisis without actually having a Leader!"Conservative MP and chief secretary to the Treasury Greg Hands tweeted: "47 Labour rebels on welfare tonight. Huge. Biggest Labour rebellion for some time. Leadership crisis without actually having a Leader!"
BBC political correspondent Eleanor Garnier said the debate had allowed the Conservatives to "highlight the lack of unity within Labour". BBC political editor Normal Smith said things could not be much worse for Labour, with a fifth of the party openly defying the leadership and many more "deeply unhappy".
It emphasised the task the next leader faces in rebuilding the party after its general election defeat, she said. He told BBC Radio Four's Today programme the split ran "right up through the party, to the shadow cabinet".
The vote showed about half of the new intake were "well to the left of the mainstream", which tells us that the gravitational pull of the party is not back to the centre, but to the left, he added.
He said one of Ms Harman's aides had told him that whoever takes over as party leader has a "hell of a job on their hands".
'Nauseating''Nauseating'
The bill, which also seeks to lower the overall household benefit cap from £26,000 a year to £20,000 (£23,000 in London) and to train a further three million apprentices, has now cleared its first parliamentary hurdle and will move onto more detailed scrutiny. The bill, which also seeks to lower the overall household benefit cap from £26,000 a year to £20,000 outside of London, and £23,000 in London, as well as to train a further three million apprentices, has now cleared its first parliamentary hurdle and will move on to more detailed scrutiny.
In a passionate debate, Conservative MPs lined up to support the measures - as well as Labour MPs who did not support the bill, it was opposed by the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Greens. In a passionate debate, Conservative MPs lined up to support the measures.
Mr McDonnell said: "I would swim through vomit to vote against this Bill and listening to some of the nauseating speeches tonight I think we might have to. As well as Labour MPs who did not support the bill, it was opposed by the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Greens.
Mr McDonnell said: "I would swim through vomit to vote against this bill and listening to some of the nauseating speeches tonight I think we might have to.
"Poverty in my constituency is not a lifestyle choice, it is imposed upon people."Poverty in my constituency is not a lifestyle choice, it is imposed upon people.
"We hear lots about how high the welfare bill is, let's understand why that's the case."We hear lots about how high the welfare bill is, let's understand why that's the case.
'Fear and loathing''Fear and loathing'
"The housing benefit bill is so high because for generations we've failed to build council houses, we've failed to control rents, we've done nothing about the 300,000 properties that stand empty in this country.""The housing benefit bill is so high because for generations we've failed to build council houses, we've failed to control rents, we've done nothing about the 300,000 properties that stand empty in this country."
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said Labour was beset by "internal fear and loathing" and that the bill would put welfare funding on a "more sustainable footing" while protecting those most in need.Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said Labour was beset by "internal fear and loathing" and that the bill would put welfare funding on a "more sustainable footing" while protecting those most in need.
Speaking after the vote, he said: "Nearly 50 Labour MPs have defied their leadership and opposed our welfare reforms which will move our country from a low wage, high tax and high welfare economy to a higher wage, lower tax and lower welfare society.Speaking after the vote, he said: "Nearly 50 Labour MPs have defied their leadership and opposed our welfare reforms which will move our country from a low wage, high tax and high welfare economy to a higher wage, lower tax and lower welfare society.
"It's clear that Labour are still the same old anti-worker party - just offering more welfare, more borrowing and more taxes.""It's clear that Labour are still the same old anti-worker party - just offering more welfare, more borrowing and more taxes."
MPs who voted against the bill
Abbott, Diane
Abrahams, Debbie
Ahmed-Sheikh, Tasmina
Anderson, David
Arkless, Richard
Bardell, Hannah
Black, Mhairi
Blackford, Ian
Blackman, Kirsty
Boswell, Philip
Brake, Tom
Brock, Deidre
Brown, Alan
Burgon, Richard
Butler, Dawn
Cameron, Dr Lisa
Campbell, Gregory
Carmichael, Alistair
Chapman, Douglas
Cherry, Joanna
Clegg, Nick
Clwyd, Ann
Corbyn, Jeremy
Cowan, Ronnie
Crawley, Angela
Davies, Geraint
Day, Martyn
Docherty, Martin John
Dodds, Nigel
Donaldson, Jeffrey M
Donaldson, Stuart
Dowd, Peter
Durkan, Mark
Edwards, Jonathan
Farron, Tim
Fellows, Marion
Ferrier, Margaret
Flynn, Paul
Gethins, Stephen
Gibson, Patricia
Glindon, Mary
Godsiff, Roger
Goodman, Helen
Grady, Patrick
Grant, Peter
Gray, Neil
Greenwood, Margaret
Haigh, Louise
Harris, Carolyn
Hayman, Sue
Hendry, Drew
Hosie, Stewart
Hussain, Imran
Jones, Gerald
Jones, Helen
Kaufman, Sir Gerald
Kerevan, George
Kerr, Calum
Khan, Sadiq
Kinahan, Danny
Lamb, Norman
Lammy, David
Lavery, Ian
Law, Chris
Lewis, Clive
Long Bailey, Rebecca
Lucas, Caroline
MacNeil, Angus Brendan
Marris, Rob
Maskell, Rachael
Mc Nally, John
McCaig, Callum
McDonald, Andy
McDonald, Stewart
McDonald, Stuart C.
McDonnell, Dr Alasdair
McDonnell, John
McGarry, Natalie
McInnes, Liz
McLaughlin, Anne
Meacher, Michael
Mearns, Ian
Monaghan, Carol
Monaghan, Dr Paul
Moon, Madeleine
Morris, Grahame M
Mulholland, Greg
Mullin, Roger
Newlands, Gavin
Nicolson, John
O'Hara, Brendan
Osamor, Kate
Oswald, Kirsten
Paisley, Ian
Paterson, Steven
Pearce, Teresa
Pugh, John
Rimmer, Marie
Ritchie, Margaret
Robertson, Angus
Salmond, Alex
Saville Roberts, Liz
Shannon, Jim
Sheppard, Tommy
Sherriff, Paula
Siddiq, Tulip
Skinner, Dennis
Smith, Cat
Stephens, Chris
Stevens, Jo
Stringer, Graham
Thewliss, Alison
Thomson, Michelle
Weir, Mike
Whiteford, Dr Eilidh
Whitford, Dr Philippa
Williams, Hywel
Williams, Mark
Wilson, Corri
Wilson, Sammy
Winnick, David
Wishart, Pete
Wright, Iain
Zeichner, Daniel