Welfare vote: Which Labour MPs voted against bill or backed new amendment?

Keir Starmer may have averted the total humiliation of defeat on the government’s controversial welfare reform bill, but only through the still-major humiliation of two rounds of last-minute climbdowns that stripped back much of the controversial reform package to avoid rebellion.

Some 335 MPs across all parties voted for Labour’s bill, but some 260 voted against – including 49 Labour MPs. Some 42 Labour MPs also signed a new wrecking amendment against it led by Rachael Maskell.

The government had hoped an earlier package of major concessions would whittle down the rebellion enough in recent days after it successfully killed off an initial amendment backed by more than 120 MPs and spearheaded by Meg Hillier.

READ MORE: 70 councillors in hardest-hit region over welfare reform write to Kendall

But ministers and aides were clearly still sufficiently worried that Stephen Timms today stunned the chamber by unveiling a second even more last-ditch rowback on personal independence payment reforms – just hours after Liz Kendall said otherwise and just before MPs headed to vote. At least one MP called it an “omnishambles”.

Here is a list of all the Labour MPs who opposed the bill, either by voting against it on Tuesday or backing the initial amendment last week that prompted initial big concessions. The list underlines how many rebels – some 77 – were eventually won round by either policy climbdowns or government pressure.

Subscribe here to our daily newsletter roundup of all things Labour – and follow us on  Bluesky, WhatsApp, Threads, X or Facebook.

• SHARE: If you have anything to share that we should be looking into or publishing about this story – or any other topic involving Labour– contact us (strictly anonymously if you wish) at [email protected].
• SUBSCRIBE: Sign up to LabourList’s morning email here for the best briefing on everything Labour, every weekday morning.
• DONATE: If you value our work, please chip in a few pounds a week and become one of our supporters, helping sustain and expand our coverage.
• PARTNER: If you or your organisation might be interested in partnering with us on sponsored events or projects, email [email protected].
• ADVERTISE: If your organisation would like to advertise or run sponsored pieces on LabourList‘s daily newsletter or website, contact our exclusive ad partners Total Politics at [email protected].