Town's MPs abstain from welfare bill vote

The two Warrington MPs say they are "committed to getting the best legislation we can"

Two Labour MPs representing Cheshire's largest town said they chose to "neither support nor oppose" the government's welfare bill as they believed it could be improved.

Sarah Hall and Charlotte Nichols, who represent the two constituencies in Warrington, were previously among 120 Labour MPs who threatened to vote against it.

The government offered a last-minute concession, saying it would not change personal independence payment (Pip) rules until the findings of a review.

In a joint statement, the Warrington MPs said they were "still not happy" with the bill but as there were "promises to address this properly" they had chosen to abstain from the vote.

Ministers had already said people currently receiving Pip, the main disability benefit, would not be affected by the new rules, but the 11th hour pledge now also delays their introduction for future claimants pending a review.

In a joint statement, the Warrington MPs said changes meaning no existing claimants would lose Pip were "a step forward", but they said it was "still not enough".

Hall and Nichols said there was now "an opportunity to amend and improve the bill" as it goes through the next stages, before its final vote.

They added they wanted to see changes so 18-22 year olds "do not fall through the cracks as we fear they currently do".

The government won the vote by 75 votes, although 49 Labour MPs still voted against the bill.

In March, the government announced plans for a shake-up of the benefits system, including measures to limit eligibility for Pip and freeze the health-related element of universal credit.

It promised a £1bn package of support to help disabled people and those with long-term conditions into work.

It said there had been a steep rise in claimants and the changes were needed to ensure the system remained sustainable.

Hall and Nichols said there were "positive" elements of the bill around helping people into work, but the original details were "not acceptable to us".

Mid Cheshire's Andrew Cooper and Connor Naismith from Crewe and Nantwich also signed the amendment last week.

'Dignified system'

Cooper and Naismith both voted for the bill following the concessions.

Cooper said: "I want to be absolutely clear, I did not vote for cuts. I did not vote to remove support.

"I voted to protect the gains we've secured so far, and to keep fighting for a benefits system that is fairer, more flexible, and rooted in dignity."

Naismith said he had received "cast iron assurances from the top of government" that there would be no cut off of current support before a review of Pip eligibility was completed.

"These assurances had been hard fought for, and I am immensely proud of every colleague who has supported efforts to get here," he said.

Hall and Nichols said: "Our loyalty will always be first and foremost to our constituents, and we are committed to getting the best legislation we can.

"There can be no decisions about disabled people without including disabled people, and we will fight for a supportive, dignified and sustainable welfare system."

Cheshire Labour MPs Samantha Dixon, Justin Madders, Tim Roca and Sarah Russell voted for the bill, while Conservatives Aphra Brandreth and Esther McVey, and Reform's Sarah Pochin all voted against the bill, which will return to the House of Commons on 9 July.