One For, Three Against, How the Yorkshire Coast's MP Voted on Welfare Bill

Tuesday, 1 July 2025 21:52

By Matthew Pells

The Yorkshire Coast's MP's voted along party lines in today's Welfare Bill

The government's controversial welfare bill passed with a majority of 75 but not before the government made further significant concessions as the bill was being debated.

335 MPs voted in favour of the bill with 260 voting against.

It came after the government watered down the bill earlier this evening, making a dramatic last-minute concession to the demands of would-be rebel MPs who were concerned about the damage the policy would do to disabled people.

The Yorkshire Coast's three Conservative MPs, Kevin Hollinrake in Filey, Charlie Dewhirst in Bridlington and Graham Stuart in Beverley and Holderness all voted against the bill.

Scarborough and Whitby Labour MP, Alison Hume, voted for the bill.

In a post on social media the MP said:

"This evening, I voted for the drastically improved Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill.

I took my concerns with the Bill to the highest level of government.

Late this afternoon it was confirmed that Clause 5 including making future PIP claimants score 4 points in a single daily living activity in order to get their daily living allowance has now been removed from the Bill.

No changes to the eligibility for PIP will be made until the Timms Review, produced collaboratively with disabled people and disability groups, has concluded."

Last week Alison Hume had said she feared the government was making a big mistake with it's proposed reforms to disability benefits and added "disabled people will be disproportionately harmed as a result of these cuts, and I can't square that with my conscience as Labour MP."

The changes made to the proposals today seem to have been enough for the Scarborough and Whitby MP to back the bill.

Alison Hume did seek assurances from the Minister for Work and Pensions, Stephen Timms, over the controversial clause 5 during today's parliamentary debate.

In total, 49 Labour MPs still voted against the bill despite the concessions. No MPs from other parties voted alongside the government, although three MPs elected for Labour who have since had the whip removed did so.

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