How did St Albans and Harpenden MPs vote in the welfare reform bill?

Both St Albans MP Daisy Cooper and the MP for Harpenden and Berkhamsted Victoria Collins, opposed the bill's passing.

No MPs from other parties voted alongside the Government in favour of the controversial Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill (PIP).

MP Cooper described the bill as "flawed from start to finish", calling out the Government's "massive climbdown" before it was passed.

Daisy Cooper speaking in Parliament. (Image: Office of Daisy Cooper MP) “We all agree that we need to get the welfare bill down, but this was not the way to do it," she began.

“Ripping support away from disabled people who need PIP to stay in work, or need it because they can’t work, was ill-thought-through from the get go.

“Having eroded trust so badly with disabled people and their carers in St Albans and beyond, the government must think very carefully about their next steps.

“This screeching u-turn also now leaves a hole in the government’s spending plans, and alongside my party I’ve been clear: the government should be looking to pursue proper economic growth through better trading with the rest of Europe rather than cutting support for disabled people, and should be looking to raise taxes on big tech and gaming companies, rather than raising taxes on family finances.”

Parts of the bill were watered down in a dramatic last-minute concession to rebel Labour MPs concerned about its impact on people with disabilities.

Those already on PIP will not be impacted by any changes in future criteria, and those with the most sever conditions will be "fully protected" and supported by reforms.

The bill will boost the basic rate of Universal Credit, and includes the "right to try", which will allow someone to start a new role and be reassured that if the role does not work out and they can return to welfare support. 

They will not need to undergo a reassessment or award review of their benefits.  

MP Victoria Collins challenged the Prime Minister in Parliament over the "damaging impact" of the bill yesterday (July 2).

MP Collins speaking during Prime Minister's Questions. (Image: MP Victoria Collins) The MP labelled the Government's approach to welfare reform as "chaotic" and "very worrying".

She commented: “When you're making decisions about support that keeps disabled people in work and independent, you need to get it right the first time.

“The fact that they had to perform a last-minute U-turn shows they didn't do their homework, and vulnerable people have paid the price for their incompetence."