Four Scottish Labour MPs rebel as benefit cuts bill passes in House of Commons
Four Scottish Labour MPs rebelled as the UK Government's benefit cuts passed in the House of Commons.
Irene Campbell, Tracy Gilbert, Brian Leishman and Euan Stainbank voted against slashing welfare for future out-of-work claimants.
But MPs voted for the cut by 336 votes to 242.
Campbell, Gilbert, Leishman and Stainbank had all voted against the bill during the second reading last week.
But a bigger rebellion had been staved off then after government U-turns.
As part of the Bill, the basic universal credit standard allowance will rise at least in line with inflation until 2029/30.
But the Government has proposed freezing the 'limited capability for work' (LCW) part of the benefit until 2030, which a group of 37 Labour rebels opposed in a vote.
The move was ultimately approved by 335 votes to 135, majority 200.
New claimants who sign up for the 'limited capability for work and work-related activity' payment would receive a lower rate than existing claimants after April 2026, unless they meet a set of severe conditions criteria or are terminally ill, which the same rebels also opposed.
Labour MP for Dunfermline and Dollar Graeme Downie also secured a commitment that people with Parkinson's, MS and similar conditions, will not be prevented from applying for additional support through the health component of Universal Credit.
'If you can work, you should,' social security minister Sir Stephen Timms told MPs before they voted on the welfare reforms.
'If you need help into work, the Government should provide it, and those who can't work must be able to live with dignity.
'Those are the principles underpinning what we're doing.'
SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson Kirsty Blackman said: "It is shameful that Labour Party MPs have voted to take thousands of pounds of vital support away from sick and disabled people across Scotland and the UK. "Keir Stamer's disability cuts bill creates an unfair two-tier system of disability support, which will punish the young and newly disabled and leave them thousands of pounds worse off a year compared to people with the same conditions and needs. "It makes no sense and it is yet another betrayal of the promises the Labour Party made at the election. Voters were promised change - not more Westminster austerity cuts targeted at the sick and disabled. "Anas Sarwar promised that Scottish Labour MPs would stand up to Starmer - but instead they have rolled over again and chosen to take money away from Scottish families. "The Labour Party is failing some of the most vulnerable groups in society with its austerity cuts - whether to pensioners who lost their winter fuel payments, children living in poverty as a result of the two child benefit cap, and now sick and disabled people too. "The SNP will continue to oppose these Labour Party cuts, demand action to support disabled people and tackle the soaring levels of poverty in the UK on Keir Starmer's watch."
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