WELSH MPs were split on the UK Government’s controversial welfare bill, which passed its second reading in Parliament on Tuesday evening (July 1), despite growing concern from charities, campaigners and backbenchers.
The bill passed by 335 votes to 260, with most Welsh Labour MPs voting in favour of the government’s amended bill following its U-turn on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) reforms. However, at least one Welsh Labour MP — Steve Witherden (Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr) — voted against the bill, siding with 49 other Labour MPs who rebelled.
Welsh Labour MPs who voted in favour of the bill included:
- Henry Tuffnell (Mid and South Pembrokeshire)
- Chris Bryant (Rhondda and Ogmore)
- Jessica Morden (Newport East)
- Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney)
- Jo Stevens (Cardiff East)
- Stephen Doughty (Cardiff South and Penarth)
- Anna McMorrin (Cardiff North)
- Carolyn Harris (Neath and Swansea East)
- Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower)
- Gerald Jones (Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare)
- Nia Griffith (Llanelli)
- Alex Barros-Curtis (Cardiff West)
- Alex Davies-Jones (Pontypridd)
- Nick Thomas-Symonds (Torfaen)
- Ruth Jones (Newport West and Islwyn)
- Catherine Fookes (Monmouthshire)
- Claire Hughes (Bangor Aberconwy)
- Andrew Ranger (Wrexham)
- Gill German (Clwyd North)
- Becky Gittins (Clwyd East)
- Torsten Bell (Swansea West)
Plaid Cymru MPs, including Liz Saville Roberts (Dwyfor Meirionnydd), Ben Lake (Ceredigion Preseli), and Llinos Medi (Ynys Môn), voted against the bill, expressing concern that it still contains measures that would cut support for people with long-term health conditions.
Charity response
Disability charity Scope warned that although the PIP climbdown was welcome, the bill still contains reforms that would reduce support for hundreds of thousands of future Universal Credit claimants.
“Our analysis shows disabled households will face nearly £15,000 a year in extra costs by 2030,” said Executive Director James Taylor. “More than 700,000 future claimants will receive around £3,000 less each year than they do now.”
The MS Society also criticised the bill, with Campaigns Head Charlotte Gill describing proposed Universal Credit cuts for those unable to work as “unfair and cruel”.
Tuffnell supports changes — but says more is needed
Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP Henry Tuffnell welcomed the government’s decision to drop the PIP overhaul and commit to reviewing any future changes with proper consultation.
Speaking after the vote, he said: “We are facing a mental health crisis in Pembrokeshire, and this is more than a statistic to me. The system must support young people and empower them to reclaim their lives.”
Tuffnell also highlighted that around 20% of Pembrokeshire’s working-age population is now on Universal Credit.
