The Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney MP who rebelled against his party to vote against welfare reform has said “Tory cuts” will “push more children into further poverty”.
Gerald Jones, who was elected to parliament in May, defied interim Labour leader Harriet Harman by voting against the Welfare Reform and Work Bill.
Forty-eight Labour MPs voted against the bill, which outlines £12bn cuts to the welfare budget, despite Ms Harman calling on MPs to abstain.
The bill included plans to freeze Universal Credit and child tax credits for four years and limit the latter to two children.
Mr Jones said: “It wasn’t a vote against the Labour Party it was a vote against Tory cuts.
“The welfare bill is going to create significant hardship for families in the Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney constituency, and across the country, and push more children into further poverty.
“It’s something I feel very strongly about and I had to oppose it.”
Caerphilly MP Wayne David and Islwyn MP Chris Evans both abstained from the vote.
Mr David said the situation “wasn’t handled very well” by Ms Harman, but said a rival amendment tabled by the Labour Party meant MPs did not ’embarrass’ their leader.
The amendment, which was voted down, outlined parts of the bill which the party support and those they oppose.
It supported capping household benefits at £20,000 but opposed abolishing child poverty targets and changes to employment support paid to the ill and disabled.
It did not mention the party’s stance on changes to child tax credits.
Mr David, who is no longer the Parliamentary Private Secretary to the acting leader, said: “That amendment was explicitly against the reform bill. That was my vote against the welfare reform bill.
“People feel very strongly about it but it wasn’t handled very well by the interim leader.
“It was important that there was an amendment so we could oppose the welfare reform bill without embarrassing the leader.”
Mr Jones, who is supporting Andy Burnham for Labour leader, said the party must now move on.
He said: “We’re in between leadership but as a party we need to get to work and expose the Tories for what they’re doing to the country.”
It’s the for the very reason that Labour were far too generous on welfare and anti business that they lost the general election, is Gerald Jones so stupid that he hasn’t realised that yet. Something has to be done about benefits, the country simply can not afford to pay every benefit claimant ten of thousands of pounds a year. In Wales in makes little difference, sadly the Labour party will always be in power and will strive to keep it’s people in the lifestyle they have become accustomed to under a Labour government, Welsh Labour are proud to rule over one of the most deprived countries in the western world and that’s the way they like it.
As for Wayne David and Chris Evans, the people who voted for them didn’t do so so they could abstain from a vote, no matter what party they represent an MP who is voted in has a duty to do their job, not sit on the fence and abstain from a vote, they are a disgrace to their constituents and should resign immediately.
This is the very reason, that Labour were not generous enough on
welfare and supporting business, that they lost the general election, is Gerald
Jones so Clever that he has realised that. Something has to be
done about benefits, the country simply can not afford to pay every
benefit claimant enough money to feed the kids, pay the rent, and heat the house, even if they are working for next to nothing on a zero hours contracts, In Wales in makes little difference, thankfully the Labour party will always be in power and will strive to keep it’s people in the basic lifestyle they should be
accustomed to under any reasonable and responsible government, by creating jobs, providing support for deprived families and hungry children, Welsh Labour are not proud to rule over one of the most deprived countries in the western world, particularly when it is caused by Tory UK Governments Idealogical perverse policies.
As for Wayne David and Chris Evans, the people who voted for them did so so they could abstain from a vote on perverse idealogical policies attacking the poorest in our Welsh Communities already suffering deprivation, no matter what party they represent an MP who is voted in has a duty to vote whichever way they feel fit, ignoring political dogma, sit on the fence and abstain from a vote if they feel that is the way want to express their political positions, they are a credit to their constituents.
If the poverty in Wales is caused by Tory ideology, why was Wales still one of the most deprived areas of the UK under 13 years of Labour? The answer is, the Welsh Assembly are so busy trying to coerce people into learning the Welsh language, reclassifying failing schools, and moaning about inequality. The Labour government in Wales should be focussed on wealth generation.
You do know that the Welsh Assembly can only play the hand they are dealt, and until that `arrangement` alters, and whatever government is in charge in Cardiff, the rot will continue.
Quite correct of course when you say that Labour in Government in the Uk also played a `duff` hand to Wales, They have to answer for that. But as sure as eggs is eggs a Tory UK outfit will not worry about the effects in Wales of their `bogus` budget constraints, wait until this years `settlement` is declared. But, come to think of it, there is an Election next year in which the Tories are already the official opposition, so I suppose we may get a few more crumbs from the top table than usual?.