If the Cap Fits
Anas leading the charge against the most vulnerable
Yesterday the House of Commons agreed by 520 votes to 22 to back the £119.5 billion ceiling on welfare spending in 2015-16 announced by George Osborne in his Budget last week. It’s a cap that Save the Children estimate will push 345,000 children into poverty in just four years.
Is this perhaps another sign of Scottish Labour’s Great Leap Forward and the new Socialist Era identified by Magnus Gardham and Hamish McDonnell?
Man the barricades. Ed Balls, the shadow Chancellor, said: “We support capping social security spending, a policy the Leader of the Opposition [Mr Miliband] advocated last year.”
Here’s the full list of the Scottish Labour MP’s who today voted in favour of the Tory benefit cap by George Osborne were:
Margaret Curran – Glasgow East
Tom Greatrex – Rutherglen and Hamilton West
Ian Murray – Edinburgh South
Willie Bain – Glasgow North East
Gordon Banks – Ochil and South Perthshire
Tom Clarke – Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
Dame Anne Begg – Aberdeen South
Alistair Darling – Edinburgh South West
Ian Davidson – Glasgow South West
Thomas Docherty – Dunfermline and west Fife
Frank Doran – Aberdeen North
Gemma Doyle – West Dunbartonshire
Sheila Gilmore – Edinburgh East
David Hamilton – Midlothian
Tom Harris – Glasgow South
Jimmy Hood – Lanark and Hamilton East
Cathy Jamieson – Kilmarnock and Loudon
Mark Lazarowicz – Edinburgh North and Leith
Gregg McClymont – Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
Anne McGuire – Stirling
Anne McKechin – Glasgow North
Iain McKenzie – Greeenock and Inverclyde
Grahame Morris – Livingston
Jim Murphy – East Renfrewshire
Pamela Nash – Airdrie and Shotts
Sandra Osborne – Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
John Robertson – Glasgow North West
Frank Roy – Motherwell and Wishaw
Lindsay Roy – Glenrothes
Anas Sarwar – Glasgow Central
As Iain Macwhirter writes in the Herald: “Labour has, through its actions in Westminster yesterday, legitimised the Conservative welfare agenda. The party that created the welfare state has lost the ability to defend its fundamental principles…Last week Ed Miliband accused Alex Salmond of mimicking Tory policies and abandoning social justice; this week the Labour leader stands accused of gross hypocrisy”.
I can’t ask my MP. Mine is Gordon Brown who by the looks of it didn’t even show up as per normal.
Why don’t they just dock his salary? He didn’t even bother to turn up to vote against the Bedroom Tax….come to think of it…neither did the bold Mr. Darling.
Sic a parcel o’ rogues in a nation
think you should have a look at those MPs and maybe order them by the level of poverty in their constituency, i’d imagine mags curran would be topping that list
http://crowhousekitchen.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/shame-on-you-scottish-labour/
I think it might actually be Willie Bain who tops the list. Springburn, in his constituency, has the third highest level of child poverty in the UK.
Willie Bain (Glasgow NE) has the honour of representing a constituency where 43% of the children live in poverty. Anas Sarwar is second (Glasgow Central – 37%) and poor old Curran only scrapes in in third place at 35% in Glasgow East. I’m sure – given their records – that Sarwar and Curran will do their utmost to get into top place as soon as possible. Given that Save the Children reckon another 345,000 children in the UK (roughly 34,000 in Scotland) will be tipped over the edge into poverty as a result of the Labour MPs’ votes, it looks hopeful that Sarwar and/or Curran could wrest the award from the hands of that political giant, Willie Bain. Good luck, Anas and Maggit.
I remember Willie Bain. He is the one who last year said he had been invited into the Boardrooms of the Big companies and they told him they were not in favour of Scottish Independence. Off course wullie did not give any company names.
In light of Labour’s latest attack on the poorest, it would make a lot more sense for them formally to join the Conservative-Liberal coalition government in London. They could all then work together to squeeze the scroungers till the pips squeak and Trident would be much more affordable. They know it makes sense.
according to Hansard Douglas Alexander also voted for the benefit cap
So the Westminster Government ignore Labour calls to cap bonuses, and the Labour Party roll over and agree to cap benefits!
Looks like it would have been easier to list those who voted against. I am amazed at how they are so easily duped or is it bought off. I think this may give the Australian person who was here the other day ammunition for her family in Council Accommodation in Edinburgh who are voting NO to protect their benefits.
The Labour Party is unique, in that almost all of their supporters generally vote for them for reasons of family loyalty. Thankfully, the Tony Blair/ Gordon Brown era began to dismantle that loyal support, and now that they have placed Milliband in charge – a completely transparent toff, completely out of touch with the working class – Labour are well and truly dying out. And Labour’s recent proposal to have one European army, to hand all of the power to the EU, well Adolf would have been rubbing his hands together with glee if he were here to see this.
Well once again Scottish Labour MP’s have been whipped not exactly kicking and screaming, through the Westminster lobbies to ensure a measure is passed in contravention of all that the Labour party historically stood for.
The same Anas tha couldn’t be bothered getting out of bed to back the bill to scrap the bedroom tax has voted to cap benefits! Which part of hypocrite does he not understand.
What a bunch of scummers. Can anyone tell me where to find a full breakdown of the vote?
Interesting to see how the constituencies with the worst child poverty according to the website http://www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/why-end-child-poverty/poverty-in-your-area dovetail nicely with the voting behaviour of their MPs.
Here’s the roll of honour of MPs voting to increase child poverty in their constituencies where at least one child in five (20%) is already living in poverty:
Willie Bain – Glasgow NE – 43% in poverty
Anas Sarwar – Glasgow Central – 37%
Margaret Curran – Glasgow E – 35%
Ian Davidson – Glasgow SW – 31%
Anne McKechin – Glasgow N – 29%
Lindsay Roy – Glenrothes – 27%
Tom Harris – Glasgow S – 26%
Gemma Doyle – W Dunbartonshire – 25%
Frank Roy – Motherwell & Wishaw – 24%
Iain McKenzie – Inverclyde 24%
Sheila Gilmore Edinburgh E – 24%
Pamela Nash – Airdrie & Shotts – 24%
Frank Doran – Aberdeen N – 23%
Cathy Jamieson – Kilmarnock & Loudoun – 22%
Mark Lazarowicz – Edinburgh N & Leith – 22%
Tom Greatrex – Rutherglen & Hamilton W – 21%
Tom Clarke – Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill – 20%
Their constituents must be thanking their lucky stars that their representatives are socialists. As for constituencies, like Alistair Darling’s Edinburgh South, where only 19% of children live in poverty, who cares? Their MPs don’t.
In addition to Bella’s list of Labour MP’s voting to cap benefits spending, Hansard also mentions Douglas Alexander (Paisley and Renfrewshire South – 21% of children in poverty) and Russell Brown (Dumfries and Galloway – 17%).
We shouldn’t forget those warriors of fairness in the Liberal Party who also voted to punish the poor: Alan Reid (Argyll & Bute – 14%); Michael Moore (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk – 14%); Sir John Thurso (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross – 19%); Mike Crockart (Edinburgh West – 15%); Danny Alexander (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey – 13%); Sir Menzies Campbell (Northeast Fife – 12%); Charles Kennedy (Ross, Skye & Lochaber – 12%); and Sir Robert Smith (West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine – 6%).
Labour’s Michael Connarty (Linlithgow & East Falkirk – 18%) deserves a mention for voting against. Labour’s Jim Sheridan (Paisley & Renfrewshire North – 17%) spoke but didn’t vote, maybe not too interested. Labour’s Sheila Gilmore (see above) and Anne McGuire (Stirling – 14%) spoke, but were obviously so swayed by the power of the Government’s argument that they voted in support of penalising their poorest constituents.
Darling was on a joint income of £300k the last time I checked..scandalous for a backbench MP in opposition who bankrupted the country. He gets rewarded with more money for failure.
Reblogged this on pictishbeastie.
I have never voted Labour I never could I saw through them when I was about 14,back in 1966.I have always believed in independence I am more convinced than ever that there is only one political party in Westminster its the Westminster party and the “Big Three”!! are really only the big one.Only independence can make changes needed to stop the slide back to the workhouse days.
Yeah I agree. There is one Westminster party now. Sure they squabble about how to make the rich even wealthier but they are really just one happy family.
If it votes like a Tory, talks like a Tory, this like a Tory, calls itself Labour
There are 71 Parliamentary constituency wards where at least one child in four is currently living in poverty. It is ‘astonishing’ to see how many of their MPs voted in favour of a spending cap. Apart from Danny Alexander and Michael Moore of the Liberals, all the others were Labour Party MPs. They wouldn’t have won the vote, but they could have followed the example of Michael Connarty and Katy Clark and refused to endorse the coalition government’s plans. It’s funny to see all those Labour names, but not to see Tory Mundell’s.
Constituency – Ward MP – party % of children in poverty¶
Glasgow NE – Springburn *Willie Bain – L 51%
Glasgow Central – Calton *Anas Sarwar – L 49%
Glasgow Central – Centre East *Anas Sarwar – L 42%
Glasgow N – Canal *Ann McKechin – L 42%
Glasgow N – Drumchapel & Anniesland *Ann McKechin – L 40%
Glasgow Central – Southside Central *Anas Sarwar – L 38%
Glenrothes – Buckhaven, Methil, Wemyss *Lindsay Roy – L 38%
Glasgow E – NE *Margaret Curran – L 37%
Dundee E – East End James McGovern 36%
Edinburgh SW – Sighthill/Gorgie *Alistair Darling – L 35%
Glasgow Central – Anderston/City *Anas Sarwar – L 35%
Glasgow Central – Govan *Anas Sarwar – L 35%
N Ayrshire & Arran- Saltcoats & Stevenston +Katy Clark – L 35%
Glasgow NW – Garscadden/Scotstounhill *John Robertson – L 34%
Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock – Ayr N *Sandra Osborne – L 33%
Kilmarnock & Loudoun – Kilmarnock S *Cathy Jamieson – L 33%
Aberdeen N – Northfield *Frank Doran – L 32%
Central Ayrshire – Irvine W Brian Donohoe – L 32%
Glasgow S – Linn *Tom Harris – L 32%
Glasgow E – Shettleston *Margaret Curran – L 31%
Glenrothes – Kirkcaldy E *Lindsay Roy – L 31%
Inverclyde – East Central *Iain McKenzie – L 31%
Paisley & Renfrewshire N – Paisley NW Jim Sheridan – L 31%
W Dunbartonshire- Clydebank Central *Gemma Doyle – L 31%
Dundee E – NE James McGovern – L 30%
Dundee W – Lochee Stewart Hosie SNP 30%
Dunfermline & W Fife – The Lochs *Thomas Docherty – L 30%
Glasgow N – Maryhill/Kelvin *Ann McKechin – L 30%
Glasgow SW – Craigton *Ian Davidson – L 30%
Aberdeen N – Tillydrone, Seaton, Old Aberdeen *Frank Doran – L 29%
Airdrie & Shotts – Airdrie Central *Pamela Nash – L 29%
Dundee W – Coldside Stewart Hosie – SNP 29%
Edinburgh E – Portobello/Craigmillar *Sheila Gilmore – L 29%
Edinburgh N & Leith – Forth *Mark Lazarowicz – L 29%
Glasgow SW – Greater Pollok *Ian Davidson – L 29%
Glenrothes – Lochgelly & Cardenden *Lindsay Roy – L 29%
Stirling – Castle *Anne McGuire – L 29%
Dundee E – Maryfield James McGovern – L 28%
Edinburgh E – Leith *Sheila Gilmore – L 28%
Edinburgh E – Liberton/Gilmerton *Sheila Gilmore – L 28%
Glasgow E – Baillieston *Margaret Curran – L 28%
Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock – Doon Valley *Sandra Osborne – L 27%
Dumfries & Galloway – NW Dumfries *Russell Brown – L 27%
Dundee E – Strathmartine James McGovern – L 27%
Glasgow S – Newlands/Auldhouse *Tom Harris – L 27%
Glenrothes – Glenrothes W & Kinglassie *Lindsay Roy – L 27%
I’ness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey – Inverness Central *Danny Alexander – LD 27%
Motherwell & Wishaw – M’well SE & Ravenscraig *Frank Roy – L 27%
West Dunbartonshire – Kilpatrick *Gemma Doyle – L 27%
Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock – Girvan & S Carrick *Sandra Osborne – L 26%
Glenrothes – Glenrothes C & Thornton *Lindsay Roy – L 26%
Glasgow N – Hillhead *Ann McKechin – L 26%
Inverclyde – East *Iain McKenzie – L 26%
Inverclyde – South *Iain McKenzie – L 26%
Kilmarnock & Loudoun – Ballochmyle *Cathy Jamieson – L 26%
Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath – Kirkcaldy Central Gordon Brown – L 26%
Ochil & S Perthshire – Clackmannanshire Central *Gordon Banks – L 26%
Ochil & S Perthshire – Clackmannanshire South *Gordon Banks – L 26%
West Dunbartonshire – Leven *Gemma Doyle – L 26%
Aberdeen N – George Street/Harbour *Frank Doran – L 25%
Angus – Arbroath E & Lunan +Mike Weir – SNP 25%
Berwickshire, Roxburgh, Selkirk – Hawick & Denholm *Michael Moore – LD 25%
Central Ayrshire – Kilwinning Brian Donohoe – L 25%
Coatbridge, Chryston, Bellshill – Coatbridge W *Tom Clarke – L 25%
Dumfries & Galloway – Stranraer & N Rhinns *Russell Brown – L 25%
Glasgow Central – Pollokshields *Anas Sarwar – L 25%
Linlithgow & Falkirk E – Whitburn & Blackburn +Michael Connarty – L 25%
Motherwell & Wishaw – Motherwell W *Frank Roy – L 25%
North Ayrshire & Arran – Kilbirnie/Beith +Katy Clark – L 25%
Paisley & Renfrewshire N – Renfrew S & Gallowhill Jim Sheridan – L 25%
Rutherglen & Hamilton W – Rutherglen Central & N *Tom Greatrex – L 25%
* These MPs voted in favour of a cap on benefits spending, 26:03:14.
+ These MPs voted against a cap on benefits spending, 26:03:14.
¶ Percentages from http://www.endchildpoverty.org.uk/why-end-child-poverty/poverty-in-your-area [accessed 27:03:14]
Great info here Iain, I’m going to use some of it on a YESdenny/dunipace poster with the caption “UKOK..??? AYE RIGHT!!!!!”
A slight problem – what is the situation with those like Stewart Hosie SNP who don’t have any mark before their name?